View allAll Photos Tagged CONVERSATIONAL
Known locally as a Goul French, more commonly as a Thistle Finch. Its scientific name is Carduelis carduelis. The Latin word for thistles is Carduus. The collective name for Goldfinches is a charm, a word defined as the blended sound of many voices and perhaps a reflection of their tinkling, conversational twittering as they feed together. (Francesca Greenoak)
400mm, 1/320s, f/5.6 at ISO 640.
Meadow Saxifrage in Fern Dale - A possible candidate for the live show of White Light White Peak, but not the book, as that is finalised.
White Light White Peak, the live show, is a personal journey through a year in the White Peak told through poems and projections. see: www.whitelightwhitepeak.com
“a beautiful work of art in every one of its facets – poetry, photography, stagecraft, soundtrack.”
Jim Marriott – Buxton Festival Fringe review.
"Summed up in one word - mesmerising." (Caroline Small, events manager at The Green Man Gallery, Buxton).
Touring the Peak District and beyond, September and October - with more dates planned for 2020.
Starting in the depths of a snowy winter, this is a poetic journey through a White Peak year, including encounters with the weather, wildlife and people; some amusing, some thought-provoking and many involving a Springer Spaniel...or two. The poems are told from memory and in a conversational style; more like miniature short stories at times, complete with twists and some happy endings.
The White Light is all in my monochrome photography: Atmospheric landscapes, wildlife shots and enigmatic moments, reflecting the images and moods heard in the poems and projected onto a large screen throughout the performance. With the occasional soundscape, (captured locally - and in all weathers) the whole is a highly immersive experience; the culmination of five years' work.
"White Light White Peak", the book, is published by Fly on the Wall press - order a copy here: www.flyonthewallpoetry.co.uk/shop Copies for sale at a discount (and signed!) at the live event if you buy the programme, which contains a supplement of seven poems with photographs.
A review of White Light White Peak – The Book:
“A joyous book - one to be slowly savoured. The black and white photos are truly atmospheric, the snippets of prose down-to-earth and gently humorous, while the poems are a wonderful celebration of nature. Simon Corble produces a little bit of magic in White Light White Peak, capturing the ethereal beauty of England's first national park. This is a book to keep and cherish.”
Helen Moat, freelance travel writer and book reviewer - author of "The Slow Guide to the Peak District".
Thursday at the colliery. Hubert the Horse continues to teach Barry Bullhead conversational Latin. Edwin, Eunice & Dudley have a stormy conversation about point levers & whether Seep or Cobalt point motors are the best. It soon blew over, with them wisely deciding on wire in tube.
Front and rear end Friday. Hubert the conversational Latin speaking horse is photographed here trying to converse with Terry the tank engine. Terry only knows how to speak chuff chuff. Derek & Clive try the be translators, but with little success I fear.
The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.
― George Bernard Shaw
I am practicing for my conversational portrait class in a few weeks. I I can get a portrait of a cat, I can get a portrait of Mark Jaress (the man who taught me photoshop) Then I can take a portrait of anything.
I shot this with the Nikon Zf and the 135mm Plena. Raw file processed in NX Studio NiK collection Silver Efex Pro v7 in Photoshop beta.
#Nikon100 #nikonlove #kelbyone #photography #onOne @NikonUSA
#mirrorless #135mmplena #NikonNoFilter #niksoftware #nikonUSA #Epson #Zf
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Jean-Antoine Houdon was one of the greatest sculptors of the 18th century, and he had a particular talent for portrait busts.
Commissioned in 1780, one year after her first marriage, this bust of Louise de Domangeville presents the sitter as somewhat older than her 18 years. Houdon's handling of the sculpture strikes a balance between the conversational intimacy of Rococo portraiture and the simplified dignity of Neoclassicism. The turn of the sitter's head and the precisely cut pupils of her eyes focus her gaze, and Houdon conveyed skin, hair, and fabric through nuances of texture and polish. Her drapery frames the bust and imparts the illusion of Classical repose.
Jean-Antoine Houdon (French, 1741-1828), marble.
89.9 cm high (35 1/4 in.)
Art Institute of Chicago (ARTIC 1996.79)
As I mentioned in the last post these rare geese kept walking towards us, it could be because they are territorial hopefully people are not feeding them. We continued to step back as we weren't sure if the meeting was going to be friendly, they were not showing aggression... we were half expecting it. When they got fairly close we decided it was time to go. Here is more info about the geese:
Preservation efforts are continuing and the success of the Nēnē in Hawaii is promising. In appearance it is similiar to a Canada Goose except the face, cap, and hindneck are black and Nēnē have buff-colored cheeks. The front and sides of the neck show black and white striped markings which are diagonal rows of white feathers with black skin showing through. Males and females have identical plumage. The Nēnē has feet that are only half as webbed as other geese, with longer toes for climbing on the rocky lava flows. Their wings are weak, compared to other geese, as they choose to fly only rarely. The Nēnē ranges in size from around 21" to 26" inches in length. Its call is soft and seems conversational in nature. The Nēnē feeds on both native and introduced plants in the grasslands and relies on the moisture from fog and dew, and that contained in the plants it eats. Nēnē have the longest nesting season of any wild goose species; eggs are laid in the winter months from August to April, although most eggs are laid during November to January. Females lay eggs in hollows in the ground amongst vegetation, often in a 'kipuka', an island of vegetation surrounded by barren lava. The hens incubate usually three eggs for 30 days. The goslings remain flightless for three months, making them particularly vulnerable to predation. Like other geese, nene are monogamous and prefer to mate for life, but will find another mate if one is lost. Unlike other geese, Nēnē do not require open water although they will swim if there is water near to their nest.
Do not use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without my explicit permission © 2016 M Leeson - all rights reserved.
You want me to look at the ceiling, but I am obsessed with the floor. I am convinced the floor is the way through. Sometimes the stars appear there too. Twinkling in our floor. The stars in the floor are closer than we are to ourselves. We can talk to them. I prefer the floor to have water on it. It only takes a few inches of water for heaven to be reproduced. I like the drag of water around my ankles when I walk, that animal-swill of stars. Down there in the mermaid hair of algae, where the stars stick, funny ornaments. For a little while, they move through human poetry. A convention like metered breath. A brief conversational space we can walk on. Toes in mud, feeling for a fortune of lotus seeds. Nourishing otherness. As we were when the stars were closest and their invaluable lies burned brightest. Now they burn in shop windows when no one is there. They burn into the reflections of pasted words. They are leaving us again but there will remain label scars in the sky.
Sans grande surprise, l'intelligence artificielle (IA) est aussi en train de prendre d'assaut l'industrie du sexe !!!
Une tendance qui préoccupe de plus en plus les experts ...
Outre la génération très controversée de deepfakes, l'IA peut être utilisée d'autres manières dans le domaine de la pornographie. Par exemple, le marché des chatbots sexuels est en pleine émergence, et il connaît un succès fulgurant. Selon la firme d'analyse SplitMetrics, les applications proposant des « compagnes d'IA » ont déjà été téléchargées plus de 225 millions de fois dans le Google Play Store. Si ces dispositifs peuvent s'avérer très lucratifs pour leurs éditeurs, ils soulèvent aussi de nombreuses questions 🤔
Le modèle économique de ces applications repose sur une stratégie bien huilée : les utilisateurs paient un abonnement pour pouvoir échanger avec l'agent conversationnel. Le développeur, lui, collecte de nombreuses données sur les clients, et peut les partager avec des tiers pour de la publicité ciblée !
Mais les chatbots ne représentent que la partie émergée de l'iceberg !!!
Prochainement, la première cyber maison close ouvrira ses portes à Berlin !
Les clients auront la possibilité de réserver une heure avec une poupée sexuelle alimentée par une intelligence artificielle 😗
Ce n’est pas vraiment ma “tasse de thé” mais vous, les artistes, qu’en pensez-vous ?🤔
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
Not surprisingly, artificial intelligence (AI) is also taking the sex industry by storm !
A trend that increasingly concerns experts...
Aside from the highly controversial generation of deepfakes, AI can be used in other ways in the realm of pornography. For example, the sex chatbot market is rapidly emerging, and it is experiencing dazzling success. According to analytics firm SplitMetrics, apps offering “AI companions” have already been downloaded more than 225 million times in the Google Play Store. If these devices can prove very lucrative for their publishers, they also raise many questions 🤔
The economic model of these applications is based on a well-oiled strategy: users pay a subscription to be able to communicate with the conversational agent. The developer collects a lot of data on customers, and can share it with third parties for targeted advertising!
But chatbots are only the tip of the iceberg!!!
Soon, the first cyber brothel will open its doors in Berlin!
Customers will have the opportunity to book an hour with an artificial intelligence-powered sex doll 😗
It’s not really my “my cup of tea” but you artists, what do you think ?🤔
_____________________________________PdF__________
Whilst the rest of the country basked in glorious sunshine parts of the Yorkshire coast was under a sea fog or locally known as sea fret. Sadly, it did not lift. It was a bit disappointing as it was my first visit here in 5 years!!!
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/index.aspx
Top things to do in Summer
1.Experience the sights, sounds and smells of the miraculous seabird spectacle at the peak of the breeding season
2.The surrounding fields are bejewelled by glorious red campion flowers
3.Enjoy a bite to eat in the family-friendly picnic area
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/about.aspx
A family favourite, and easily the best place in England to see, hear and smell seabirds! More than 200,000 birds (from April to August) make the cliffs seem alive – with adults bringing food to their nests, or young chicks making their first faltering flights.
With huge numbers to watch, beginners can easily learn the difference between gannets, guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and fulmars. The easily recognisable puffins (here between April and July) are always a delight. Specially-created cliff top viewpoints are wheelchair accessible with care.
You can watch our 200,000 seabirds LIVE on CCTV through the breeding season from March to October. Meet our information assistants and hear about the live action, watch it for yourself on our two TV screens and enjoy the close-up images of our nesting gannets.
Opening times
The reserve is open at all times. From March to October, the visitor centre is open daily from 9.30 am to 5 pm, and from November to February, 9.30 am to 4 pm.
Entrance charges
Entry is free of charge to members all year. There's a charge for non-members of £5 per car, minibus £8 and coach £10.
If you are new to birdwatching...
The birds are easy to see during breeding season - creating a fantastic seascape and bird spectacle. Only eight target seabird species breed here, so learning to identify birds is simple. In winter, common passerines (buntings, sparrows and finches) and short-eared owls (vary in numbers from one year to next) can be seen and identified.
Information for families
Reserve already popular with families. Various family events included in our programme throughout the year. Backpack Activity days very popular.
Information for dog owners
Dogs are welcome on the reserve, however they must be kept on leads at all times. This is to ensure that ground nesting birds are not disturbed, and also to ensure the safety of dogs on the cliff top.
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/star_speci...
Star species
Our star species are some of the most interesting birds you may see on your visit to the reserve.
Gannet
Look for stunning gannets cruising around at the base of the cliffs and fishing out to sea by rising up into the air before plunging in headfirst with their wings close.
Kittiwake
Visit Bempton in spring and early summer and your ears will be filled with the unmistakable 'kitti-wake' calls of this dainty gull. Look along the cliffs to see them packed onto their tiny nesting ledges.
Puffin
Enjoy the comical antics of puffins in spring and early summer from the viewing points on the cliffs. Watch the adults returning from fishing forays at sea with sandeels hanging from their colourful beaks.
Short-eared owl
Short-eared owls can be seen hunting over the clifftop grassland here in winter. The afternoons are a good time to spot them banking and gliding just above the ground; their piercing yellow eyes scanning for voles moving in the grass below.
Tree sparrow
Flocks of tree sparrows can be seen in the cliff top fields and are regular visitors to the feeding stations. Listen out for their conversational calls - a hard and piercing 'tek'.
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/seasonal_h...
Seasonal highlights
Each season brings a different experience at our nature reserves. In spring, the air is filled with birdsong as they compete to establish territories and attract a mate. In summer, look out for young birds making their first venture into the outside world. Autumn brings large movements of migrating birds - some heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter. In winter, look out for large flocks of birds gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm.
Spring
Breeding seabirds start to return, including gannets, puffins, guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, kittiwakes, herring gulls and shags. Farmland birds such as skylarks, tree sparrows, linnets, meadow pipits, reed and corn buntings can be seen. There are normally short-eared owls and peregrines to be seen too. Migratory birds include arriving wheatears and various warblers, while over-wintering thrushes can be seen on the reserve before moving back into mainland Europe. Porpoises can often be seen on calm days while early morning visits may provide sightings of roe deer.
Summer
Breeding season is in full swing with all 200,000 seabirds with eggs or chicks. Breeding tree sparrows, whitethroats, grasshopper warblers, sedge warblers, skylarks, linnets, reed buntings, rock and meadow pipits can be seen within 200 m of the visitor centre and car park. A moderate range of the commoner butterflies may be seen on sunny days, along with day-flying moths such as cinnabars, burnet moths and occasionally hummingbird hawk-moths. Trailside flora is dominated by red campion, black knapweed, various thistles and orchids including common spotted, northern marsh and pyramidal.
Autumn
All seabirds departed and breeding finished except for gannets. The autumnal migration can be exciting at Bempton owing to its coastal location and being on a headland. Short-eared owls begin to arrive to stay for the winter (depending on food availability) but the main interest is in the arrival of migrants such as willow warblers, chiffchaffs, whitethroats, lesser whitethroats, reed warblers, sedge warblers, goldcrests, stonechats, whinchats, wheatears and redstarts. Scarce species occur annually such as red-backed shrikes, and barred and icterine warblers. October is peak time to witness the winter thrush arrival, often hundreds of redwings, blackbirds, song thrushes and fieldfares occur along with occasional ring ouzels. Offshore, movements of seabirds may be seen in ideal weather conditions (strong NW winds). These include Manx and sooty shearwaters, Arctic and great skuas. Around the car park area migrant hawker and common darter dragonflies can be seen. There is little botanical interest at this time of year.
Winter
This is normally a quiet time of year. Bracing clifftop walks and fantastic seascapes are probably the best in Yorkshire. Up to 12 short-eared owls winter here, though in poor 'vole' years there may only be a few. The bird feeding station offers food and shelter to a range of commoner species such as tree sparrows (110 have been counted), greenfinch (60), and smaller numbers of blackbirds, robins, dunnocks, wrens, chaffinches, bramblings and various tit species. The cliff face attracts very few birds except for occasional herring gulls and fulmars, but by January gannets will return in good numbers with occasional days of guillemots in good numbers too.
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/facilities...
Facilities
Facilities
•Visitor centre
•Information centre
•Car park : Car park has no height restrictions. Cycle rack available close to visitor centre.
•Toilets
•Disabled toilets
•Picnic area
•Binocular hire
•Live camera
•Group bookings accepted
•Guided walks available
•Remote location
•Good for walking
•Pushchair friendly
Viewing points
Five cliff-top viewpoints and a bird feeding station. The five viewpoints are:
Grandstand: 200 m from visitor centre/car park, accessible by wheelchairs/pushchairs with care
Bartlett Nab: 400 m from visitor centre/car park and not easily accessible by wheelchairs/pushchairs
Jubilee Corner: 900 m from visitor centre/car park, not easily accessible by wheelchairs/pushchairs
New Roll-up: 500 m from visitor centre/car park, not easily accessible by wheelchairs/pushchairs
Staple Newk: 900m from visitor centre/car park, not easily accessible by wheelchairs/pushchairs.
The bird feeding station is easily accessed, 50 m from visitor centre/car park.
Nature trails
There are two nature trails. The first nature trail leading to five cliff-top viewpoints. The most distant viewpoints are 900 m from the visitor centre. Part of the trail is crushed chalk, with the remainder over worn grass. There is easy wheelchair and pushchair access to one viewpoint only. Paths can be wet and slippery following wet weather conditions, therefore care should be taken. The discovery trail is a shorter farmland walk.
Refreshments available
•Hot drinks
•Cold drinks
•Snacks
•Confectionery
Shop
The shop stocks:
•Binoculars and telescopes
•Books
•Bird food
•Gifts
Educational facilities
The Bempton Field Teaching Scheme operates throughout the year and offers exciting educational opportunities linked with the National Curriculum. The busiest time is from May to July, when breeding seabirds are at their peak. The scheme provides a unique opportunity to discover breeding seabirds, such as gannets and puffins, as well as investigating the challenging habitats in this fantastic coastal location. A truly memorable experience!
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/accessibil...
Accessibility
26 October 2012
This is a Summary Access Statement. A full access statement is available to download from this page
Before you visit
•Clear print leaflet available on request
•Free parking for members. Parking charge for non members. Free parking for carer or essential companion
•Registered Assistance Dogs welcome
•Check accessibility for events and activities
•Wheelchair free of charge to hire. Pre-booking advised
•Live footage on TV in Visitor Centre
How to get here
•Bempton railway station is 1.25 miles away
•The nearest bus stops are on the main B1229 through the village, around 1 mile from the reserve
•No pavement on road to reserve
Car parking
•Four blue badge parking spaces 10 m (13 yards) from the visitor centre on bound gravel and paved path
•60 spaces in main car park, is a short walk to the main entrance of the visitor centre
•Overflow with 60 spaces on grass
•The path surface from the overflow car park is crushed limestone on exiting the field and after 20 m (26 yards) joins the path from the coach drop-off point (see below)
•Drop-off point 50 m (60 yards) from the visitor centre with a crushed limestone surface with a 1:10 sloped descent
•No lighting or height restrictions.
Visitor centre
Situated on ground floor level with step free access. Live footage on TV from the colony. Four circular tables with seating. Outside when weather is fine. Tiled floor surface. Artificial and natural lighting. Access ramp leads to reserve.
Nature trails
The reserve offers visitors a mixture of trails. A mix of bonded tar-spray chip, crushed limestone or mown grass. Most trails are a minimum of 1200mm/47ins wide and the majority lead to the cliff top viewing points (see Viewing Facilities below).
Viewing facilities
Five built viewpoints along the cliff top path, most have seats. In the Visitor Centre there is live footage on TV of the colony. From car park to exit is The Dell - good for small migrant birds - with a narrow grass path with inclines to and from two seats. A bird feeding station is off the path between the coach park and visitor centre.
Toilets
There are toilets and an accessible toilets outside the visitor centre, with level access to all. Note there are no toilet facilities beyond the visitor centre.
Catering
A servery with a hatch facing outside the visitor centre offering hot and cold beverages, snacks and ice creams. Hatch is 900 mm (36 inches) from the ground.
Shop
The shop is within the visitor centre. Staff and volunteers can assist. There is level entry and no doors to enter apart from those at the main entrance. The shop is lit with spot lamps.
Education area
There is currently a short mown grass square to the rear of the visitor centre which serves as an outdoor classroom reached via the access ramp.
Picnic area
Seven picnic tables - four on grass and three with spaces for wheelchairs on crushed limestone surface - situated 25 m/30 yards from the visitor centre.
For more information
Bempton Cliffs
E-mail: bempton.cliffs@rspb.org.uk
Telephone:01262 851179
YO15 1JF
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/directions...
How to get here
By train
Nearest railway station 200 m south of Bempton village. Exit station and turn left, follow road down to church, walk up lane adjacent to church to staggered cross-road junction. Walk across road and take the road adjacent to the White Horse public house, northwards to the reserve. Total walking distance 1.5 miles (2.4 km). Walking time 40 minutes.
By bus
Nearest bus stop in Bempton village, 1 mile (1.5 km) from the reserve. Buses will drop off at any point on request. Disembark at White Horse public house and follow road northwards up the lane to the reserve. Walking time 30 minutes.
By road
The reserve is on the cliff road from the village of Bempton, which is on the B1229 road from Flamborough to Filey. In Bempton village, turn northwards at the White Horse public house and the reserve is at the end of the road after 1 mile (follow the brown tourist signs).
Other ways to get to the reserve
Trains and buses stop at Bempton, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the reserve. The timetables are seasonal so we advise you call the Visitor Centre for further details. Nearest ferry port in Hull and Humberside Airport in north Lincolnshire.
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/ourwork/in...
Management
Our Bempton Cliffs reserve, on the Yorkshire coast, protects over five kilometres of sea cliffs. From April to mid-August, these support England's largest population of seabirds. Grassland and scrub along the cliff tops are also home to breeding and wintering farmland birds.
The RSPB is managing the reserve for the benefit of its wildlife, which also includes seals and porpoises, and with a long-term view to upgrading its protection status.
Cliff-face communities
Bempton's breeding seabirds are internationally important, making the cliffs both a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Protection Area.
Species include kittiwakes, gannets, guillemot, razorbills and puffins. We have specific targets for every one: for instance, we would like to maintain a yearly kittiwake population of 43,000 nesting pairs, producing at least one young each.
During the breeding season, our cliff-top patrols help prevent disturbance by visitors and fishermen.
Leading by example
Unfortunately seabird colonies are vulnerable to environmental threats that lie beyond our control. These include climate change and industrial fishing, which affect the birds' food supplies. We aim to use Bempton to highlight these issues, so that key decision makers will take action to safeguard the long-term future of seabirds. We hope this will lead to Bempton being designated a marine Special Conservation Area.
Room at the top
The grassland and scrub at the top of the cliffs are home to farmland birds such as tree sparrows, skylarks and linnets. Short-eared owls also spend winter here.
We are cutting back scrub and harrowing grassland in order to increase the population of insects and small mammals on which all these birds feed. We also put out extra food when necessary.
Vision for visitors
The seabird spectacle at Bempton makes the reserve very popular during summer, while the farmland birds help generate interest all-year-round. We aim to continue attracting and educating people, and inspiring them to support the marine environment.
Our facilities currently include a shop, picnic area and cliff top walks. We aim to develop these, with a view to increasing numbers to 60,000 visitors per annum over the next five years.
Tracking gannets
For the first time, we're finding out where Bempton's gannets go when they're away from the colony.
RSPB scientists have fitted satellite tags to a number of adult gannets so that we can monitor where they go to catch fish. The tags are designed so that they don't hurt or hinder the birds, and they will eventually fall off when the gannets grow new tail feathers, if not sooner.
We need to find out whether the birds are using areas which the government has earmarked as potential wind farms, and how that might affect them. This information will be used to help plan where to put wind turbines at sea.
What we're doing
•Fourteen adult gannets were fitted with satellite tags in July 2010 (and another 13 in July 2011)
•In 2010 we got data from all 14 tags during the time when the gannets were rearing their chicks, and several kept transmitting data late into the breeding season
•The highest density of recorded locations at sea was within 31-62 miles (50-100 km) of Bempton Cliffs
•The greatest overlap with any of the proposed wind farm areas was with the Hornsea zone, which is nearest to Bempton
•These results are from just one breeding season, so it's unclear just how representative they are of what Bempton's gannets do. We'll monitor them again in future breeding seasons to learn more.
You can find out more about this work on the gannet tracking project page.
"Plot Twist"
From the "Life Lessons" series.
Photo: Reylia Slaby
Model: Reylia Slaby
Dress design by Anna Benedict
Without these words, I think that I would have taken the sadder things in life more to heart. I found this quote that read "When something goes wrong with your life, just yell "Plot twist!" and move on." That has helped me immensely, so I felt it should be a photo.
The quote is simple, even conversational, but when you start comparing your life to a book, the bad things start to lose their power, and it's a bit easier to get perspective on your situation. It's makes it seem as if something amazing is right around the corner.
One thing I realised is this : We write our own story.
Of course there are other influences, but ultimately we have choices. And people sometimes don't understand that when we choose a behaviour, we are also choosing the consequences. Including holding on to pain. Do you really want it to affect you for 10 years? Will it even matter in 3?
No, just think of life as an amazing story. There can be sad parts and plot twists, but that only makes the story better.
Always,
Reylia
Lets get in contact!
I was riding the metro in Washington, D.C. yesterday and I sat down on one of the old, faded orange seats and gazed out the window, watching the lights blur by like the rush of the wings of a bird. Just a few moments later, I felt a tap on my shoulder and I turned to see a man, his teeth crooked, but forming into a smile. I listened as he asked me a question: when the stop for King street was. I thought for a moment and responded apologetically, explaining I was not from around D.C. and had no idea where the stop was.
As I began to turn back around, the man began to speak again, laughing at his life story that he began to pour out to me. He talked to be about how he was going to meet up with a girl for dinner and how he liked her a lot. I listened to him talk, marveling at how he could spark up a conversation about his life so simply and conversationally with me, a mere stranger. I smiled as he went on about this woman he wrote a letter to and how he was looking forward to this nice dinner with her.
As I listened to his words, the sentences seeming to form together, not giving me a chance to speak my thoughts. I began to see how even though I couldn’t get many words at all into the conversation, the way I listened seemed to make him joyful, as if he’d never had someone listen to him before.
Sometimes, I think, God uses those lonely people on the metro to edify me. Revealing to me the power in being quick to listen and slow to speak. Even though the only words I could speak to him was a simple goodbye and best wishes with the dinner he was going to, I could tell that he took my small words and found hope in them.
“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
- James 1:9
After a rough night and an extremely emotional first part of the morning, Vincent was mentally exhausted. As he prepared the wood stove, lighting it and setting a kettle with some water on top, his mind went back to the whole conversation a few minutes ago. He'd...really let out a lot of deep thoughts and feelings. Sure, Aiden seemed like everything was okay but was it really?
Aiden wandered in from the main room and glanced around as Vincent kept himself busy at the stove. Aiden was taking his time looking around at everything now that he had the opportunity. It really was a small space big enough for maybe two people to live comfortably. It was a nice little flat and not the cheap kind. As Aiden admired the kitchen space, Vincent glanced over his shoulder at him. Aiden didn't seem bothered and in fact looked like his usual, typical curious self.
Realizing that Aiden was looking back at him with a slight smile, Vincent turned his gaze back to the stove where the water was starting to heat up in the kettle with slightly rosy cheeks. He quickly made himself busy taking down two mugs and looking for his pre-measured steeping bags of coffee.
"This is a really nice flat," Aiden said conversationally as he leaned against the small counter a few feet away from Vincent who nodded with a small, "Thanks." He found the container with the coffee and opened the lid before giving it a small sniff. Thankfully it was still good. He'd need to get more at the market later. While he began to set the bags into the mugs, Aiden teased, "You know, I think this is the first time I've seen you drink coffee. It's always been some sort of tea with you."
"Hm. Well I DO prefer my tea but after this morning's excitement, I thought the situation called for it. It works best for these damn hangovers."
"I've never had one."
"You don't want one. Trust me, you're better off without."
Aiden wanted to ask why Vincent kept drinking if he knew he was going to suffer for it. Logically, he knew it was because he was trying to escape whatever past he had here in the capitol. However, he wasn't going to push Vincent. He wanted Vincent to volunteer the information when and if he was ready for it; just like he'd told him a few minutes ago in the other room.
"If it's not too intrusive to ask, does your family live here as well?" Aiden asked, gently pressing for more information about Vincent's personal life. Vincent turned and leaned against the counter as they waited for the kettle to whistle, folding his arms over his abdomen and gazing at Aiden. He'd still not put on his eye patch and was relieved to see Aiden still didn't appear bothered by his eye. Much to Aiden's surprise, Vincent responded, "Yes. My uncle's residence is in town and my aunt and cousins live there. My father used to live here but when I moved out to travel with my uncle, he moved all the way to Yarlstown to become a professor at the university there. He gets to spend all his time studying the cosmos and teaching young minds. We correspond often and he's very happy."
Aiden enjoyed hearing the information about Vincent's family and proceeded to casually ask more about Vincent's youth and family. It didn't take long for the kettle to finish, and soon they were drinking coffee together in the kitchen while Vincent told Aiden about his childhood.
Aiden learned that Vincent was an only child like he was but had lots of cousins, all girls, which led to Vincent being the son his uncle never had. Vincent's mother had walked out on their family when he was a baby and hadn't heard from her since. He'd spent a lot of his time studying star charts and learning astronomy from his father and developed the love of machinery and flying from his uncle who had helped raise him. Having a scholar for a father and a captain for an uncle who was like another father, Vincent was well rounded in his studies and loved to learn. And soon, Vincent was asking Aiden about his own life as well. Aiden had a much simpler life than the scholarly Vincent but he had plenty of stories to share, many of which made Vincent chuckle.
Nearly two hours later, another cup of coffee each, and some biscuits later Vincent was leaning back against the headboard of his bed, legs stretched out and ankles crossed. His eye patch lay forgotten beside him on the nightstand. Across the room, Aiden was sitting Indian style on the chaise, enjoying swapping stories. Yet Vincent had not brought up the woman in the picture and Aiden did not ask. It was something, Aiden felt, that would be brought up when Vincent was ready.
"Well as much fun as I'm having, I do need to start saying goodbye for now," Vincent finally said as he realized the time. It was already nearly noon and he had a lot to do before this evening. Aiden glanced towards the clock and let out a low whistle. "Time flew by, didn't it?" He looked back at Vincent who gazed back at him. "Yeah. I'm...I'm glad you stayed," he admitted before he could stop himself. Aiden was a little surprised but found himself smiling, feeling slightly shy. "I'm glad I did too. I guess I'll see myself out."
Vincent began moving off of the bed as Aiden stood as well, stretching with a soft groan. Vincent echoed the sounds as Aiden chuckled, "Feels good to move." Vincent gave a nod and then followed Aiden towards the door. As he did, his eyes shifted and watched how Aiden's muscles moved under his shirt, his gaze shifting lower and-
"Well, if you need me you know where I'll be."
Vincent's attention shifted, his eyes quickly focusing on Aiden's head before Aiden caught his wandering gaze. Aiden had made it to the door and unlocked the door, opening it and stepping out of the flat into the hall. He turned to look at Vincent who gazed back at him and said softly, "Right. And Aiden? Thank you for...well, everything."
Aiden blinked and then smiled softly and replied, "It's my pleasure. I'm just glad you're okay. If you need anything, you know where I'll be. See you soon, Vincent."
"See you soon, Aiden." Vincent leaned against the door jamb and watched as Aiden gave him a bit of a grin and turned to take his leave. That kid was such a damn enigma in his life! He smirked slightly and shook his head before stepping back into his flat and closing the door so he could get ready to go out.
After a busy afternoon of errands around town, Vincent was glad to make his way towards Damien's family's home as the evening began to set in. Damien, of course, knew all about Vincent's usual binge drinking. It was why he'd offered to come over; so he didn't have to go through it alone. He'd always known Vincent to come over feeling rather depressed and needing a pick-me-up the next evening after arriving back in the capital. However, when he received his best friend, he was surprised to see Vincent wasn't in his usual depressed state. Was he finally starting to come to terms with everything?
It was a short while later that Vincent and Damien made their way up to the rooftops. The sun had already begun to paint the colors in the sky into a beautiful sunset. Vincent was admiring it as he lit his pipe, Damien shifting to lean back against the building as his eyes studied his best friend.
"Are you doing alright, Vincent? Really?"
Vincent finished lighting his pipe and took a deep inhale as his gaze shifted towards his best friend. He gave a slight smirk and exhaled, watching as the smoke lifted to the air. "You know what? Yeah. It certainly didn't start off that way." Damien quirked his brow at this interesting bit of news. "Oh? I mean, don't get me wrong, I am glad you're doing alright…truly. But this is unexpected. So what happened?"
Vincent gave a small, "Heh," then looked down at his freshly lit pipe. "It started off like it always does. I got home, relaxed. That evening I went to the tavern and got about five mugs in. Then for whatever reason, Aiden shows up." Damien's eyes widened in surprise.
"Seriously?"
"Seriously."
"What the fu-"
"That's what I thought! The next thing I know he's telling me I'd had enough and he was taking me home. And then..." Vincent trailed off as a memory flashed of Aiden blushing with those cute dimples of his full on display just because he'd asked him to. Suddenly Vincent was clearing his throat and bringing his pipe to his lips. "Well, I don't remember exactly," he said, knowing full well that was a bit of a white lie. Off to the side, Damien stared at him in surprise.
Vincent continued, "I remember making it to the flat and Aiden helped me get into bed. Next thing I know it's morning and the hangover is hitting full force. Suddenly, I needed to go to the loo and that's when I realized that he actually stayed the night."
"He stayed over?"
"Mhm. I found him asleep on my chaise," Vincent explained, a soft smile perking his lips. He glanced off to the side and watched a few clouds in the distance. He could remember the feeling of gratitude he'd felt for Aiden this morning; a feeling he still felt. It wasn't just about the loyalty Aiden had shown, but for Aiden simply being Aiden. "He saw me without my eyepatch, Damien. I hadn't grabbed it and he woke before I could get it." He licked his lips before continuing. "And... he doesn't look at me like I'm some monster."
"I don't think you look like some monster," Damien cut in, reaching out to touch Vincent's shoulder but Vincent chuckled and turned his back towards Damien so he could light his pipe once again and missed the gesture altogether. "I know you don't and I am grateful; you know that. But Aiden? I wasn't expecting him to be so understanding. After the initial shock he looked at me like he does any other day; like any other man." Damien lowered his hand, his lip curling slightly as the annoyance he felt for Aiden grow stronger just on principle. 'Since when did Vincent start caring so much about what that kid thought anyway?' he wondered, his expression calming as Vincent straightened. Once again, he’d see a soft smile curving along Vincent's lips.
Damien pressed his forearms to his knees and gave a slight chuckle, all frustrations visibly gone. "Well, I'm glad he's so understanding. Maybe there will be less need to hide yourself, Vincent." His gaze lifted, a smile forming as he gazed at his best friend. Vincent shrugged and turned to face Damien once more, leaning against the wall as he turned his pipe in his fingers a bit. "Maybe." He smirked slightly then glanced past Vincent towards the horizon which also was the direction of the docks. Aiden was likely there settling in for the evening. He hoped he was going to be alright on his own for the next couple weeks.
Next to him, Damien's green eyes cooled as they focused on Vincent's faraway gaze. Vincent was never like this; not even with....her. Even as the conversation changed and they began to discuss their plans for their two weeks stay, Damien would catch Vincent occasionally glancing towards the docks. What the Hell was going on?! Damien convinced Vincent shortly after to go get some dinner together. But even during dinner, Vincent seemed more quiet than usual.
"Do you want me to walk you home?"
Vincent straightened his sleeve as Damien and he walked out of a tavern and glanced up at Damien and gave a small shrug. "Sure, why not? I'll even put on some tea." Damien laughed and slung his arm over Vincent's shoulder who gave a soft groan at the weight in jest.
"More tea?"
"You like tea!"
"You're tiring me out of tea!"
And it felt like old times again! Damien grinned and chuckled along with Vincent who played along. The whole way back, Vincent permitted Damien to drape his arm over his shoulder and felt amused by his best friend. Though as they approached his building, he heard Damien and his names called out by a familiar voice.
"Vincent! Damien!"
Sure enough, Aiden was there! Vincent felt a funny little skip in his chest as he began to realize that Aiden was...actually here. Damien's expression cooled slightly as his eyes took in the sight of the younger man and he felt Vincent move from under his arm to reach Aiden first. "What are you doing here?" Vincent was asking to which Aiden held up a small bag and grinned.
"I thought you'd like some chocolate covered coffee beans. The sweet shop made them fresh and I remember you told me how much you love them!"
"Did you seriously wait around all evening for me to come home JUST to bring me chocolate covered coffee beans?"
"Well no, not ALL evening. But you're lucky you came home when you did because I was about to eat them, myself. Haha!"
"You didn't have to do that! But...thank you."
"You're welcome. Hey Damien!"
Damien had been standing nearby, arms folded over his chest as he quirked his eyebrow with a slight smirk. "Hello, Aiden." Meanwhile, Vincent was peeking into the bag of sweets and plucked one out and popped it in his mouth with a soft moan. "They're so good fresh." He dipped his hand in again and pulled a few more, first turning to Damien and offering some. Damien reached out and held the beans for a moment before popping a few into his mouth as Vincent turned to give some to Aiden as well. They were good, for sure, but why did Aiden have to come by NOW?
"We're about to go have some tea. Would you like to come?" Vincent was asking but Damien cut through with a chuckle. "I'm sure Aiden is tired. It's getting late and it's a bit of a walk back to the docks," he told Vincent. Aiden blinked, looking from Damien to Vincent then gave a slight smile when Vincent quirked his mouth and gave a slight huff. Aiden smiled a little more and shrugged. "Damien's right. It's late but definitely another time, alright? You gentlemen have a good evening!" Vincent popped another chocolate covered coffee bean in his mouth and gave a small nod. "Rest well, Aiden."
"You too. Goodnight, Damien!"
Damien nodded to him and watched as the younger man took his leave. Beside him, Vincent held up the bag and said, "I know JUST what will go with these. Let's go!" Damien followed Vincent into the building so they could go have their nighttime tea with the treat Aiden had brought for Vincent. Things were changing and he wasn't sure he liked it.
***
This scene was taken in Second Life at Victorian London - Time Portal on the rooftops!
You can check out this AMAZING roleplay-type parcel and even rent from there! Seriously! Its incredibly realistic and there's much to see and check out!
***
Next Part: flickr.com/photos/153660805@N05/51060913911/in/dateposted/
To read the rest of the story, here's the album link:
flickr.com/photos/153660805@N05/albums/72157717075565127
***Please note this is a BOY LOVE (BL/yaoi/gay) series. It is a slow burn and rated PG13!***
***
Special thank you to Vin Aydin Raven-Mysterious for collaborating with me on this series and co-starring as The Captain! And thank you to Logan Owle as well for returning as Damien!
~
DISCORD SERVER: That's right! The Captain and the Engineer has a Discord Server! If you would like to join and chat with other crewmates and see what's new and happening before it gets posted to Flickr, click the link!
***NEW!!!!***
The Captain and the Engineer now has a FACEBOOK PAGE! Please come Like, Follow, and join the crew! Thank you so much for all your support!
FACEBOOK PAGE:
Now, you can chat with Barbie®!
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Drawing from Japanese influences, the Asta Coffee Table resembles a nondescript plank of wood upon first glance.
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Whilst the rest of the country basked in glorious sunshine parts of the Yorkshire coast was under a sea fog or locally known as sea fret. Sadly, it did not lift. It was a bit disappointing as it was my first visit here in 5 years!!!
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/index.aspx
Top things to do in Summer
1.Experience the sights, sounds and smells of the miraculous seabird spectacle at the peak of the breeding season
2.The surrounding fields are bejewelled by glorious red campion flowers
3.Enjoy a bite to eat in the family-friendly picnic area
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/about.aspx
A family favourite, and easily the best place in England to see, hear and smell seabirds! More than 200,000 birds (from April to August) make the cliffs seem alive – with adults bringing food to their nests, or young chicks making their first faltering flights.
With huge numbers to watch, beginners can easily learn the difference between gannets, guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and fulmars. The easily recognisable puffins (here between April and July) are always a delight. Specially-created cliff top viewpoints are wheelchair accessible with care.
You can watch our 200,000 seabirds LIVE on CCTV through the breeding season from March to October. Meet our information assistants and hear about the live action, watch it for yourself on our two TV screens and enjoy the close-up images of our nesting gannets.
Opening times
The reserve is open at all times. From March to October, the visitor centre is open daily from 9.30 am to 5 pm, and from November to February, 9.30 am to 4 pm.
Entrance charges
Entry is free of charge to members all year. There's a charge for non-members of £5 per car, minibus £8 and coach £10.
If you are new to birdwatching...
The birds are easy to see during breeding season - creating a fantastic seascape and bird spectacle. Only eight target seabird species breed here, so learning to identify birds is simple. In winter, common passerines (buntings, sparrows and finches) and short-eared owls (vary in numbers from one year to next) can be seen and identified.
Information for families
Reserve already popular with families. Various family events included in our programme throughout the year. Backpack Activity days very popular.
Information for dog owners
Dogs are welcome on the reserve, however they must be kept on leads at all times. This is to ensure that ground nesting birds are not disturbed, and also to ensure the safety of dogs on the cliff top.
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/star_speci...
Star species
Our star species are some of the most interesting birds you may see on your visit to the reserve.
Gannet
Look for stunning gannets cruising around at the base of the cliffs and fishing out to sea by rising up into the air before plunging in headfirst with their wings close.
Kittiwake
Visit Bempton in spring and early summer and your ears will be filled with the unmistakable 'kitti-wake' calls of this dainty gull. Look along the cliffs to see them packed onto their tiny nesting ledges.
Puffin
Enjoy the comical antics of puffins in spring and early summer from the viewing points on the cliffs. Watch the adults returning from fishing forays at sea with sandeels hanging from their colourful beaks.
Short-eared owl
Short-eared owls can be seen hunting over the clifftop grassland here in winter. The afternoons are a good time to spot them banking and gliding just above the ground; their piercing yellow eyes scanning for voles moving in the grass below.
Tree sparrow
Flocks of tree sparrows can be seen in the cliff top fields and are regular visitors to the feeding stations. Listen out for their conversational calls - a hard and piercing 'tek'.
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/seasonal_h...
Seasonal highlights
Each season brings a different experience at our nature reserves. In spring, the air is filled with birdsong as they compete to establish territories and attract a mate. In summer, look out for young birds making their first venture into the outside world. Autumn brings large movements of migrating birds - some heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter. In winter, look out for large flocks of birds gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm.
Spring
Breeding seabirds start to return, including gannets, puffins, guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, kittiwakes, herring gulls and shags. Farmland birds such as skylarks, tree sparrows, linnets, meadow pipits, reed and corn buntings can be seen. There are normally short-eared owls and peregrines to be seen too. Migratory birds include arriving wheatears and various warblers, while over-wintering thrushes can be seen on the reserve before moving back into mainland Europe. Porpoises can often be seen on calm days while early morning visits may provide sightings of roe deer.
Summer
Breeding season is in full swing with all 200,000 seabirds with eggs or chicks. Breeding tree sparrows, whitethroats, grasshopper warblers, sedge warblers, skylarks, linnets, reed buntings, rock and meadow pipits can be seen within 200 m of the visitor centre and car park. A moderate range of the commoner butterflies may be seen on sunny days, along with day-flying moths such as cinnabars, burnet moths and occasionally hummingbird hawk-moths. Trailside flora is dominated by red campion, black knapweed, various thistles and orchids including common spotted, northern marsh and pyramidal.
Autumn
All seabirds departed and breeding finished except for gannets. The autumnal migration can be exciting at Bempton owing to its coastal location and being on a headland. Short-eared owls begin to arrive to stay for the winter (depending on food availability) but the main interest is in the arrival of migrants such as willow warblers, chiffchaffs, whitethroats, lesser whitethroats, reed warblers, sedge warblers, goldcrests, stonechats, whinchats, wheatears and redstarts. Scarce species occur annually such as red-backed shrikes, and barred and icterine warblers. October is peak time to witness the winter thrush arrival, often hundreds of redwings, blackbirds, song thrushes and fieldfares occur along with occasional ring ouzels. Offshore, movements of seabirds may be seen in ideal weather conditions (strong NW winds). These include Manx and sooty shearwaters, Arctic and great skuas. Around the car park area migrant hawker and common darter dragonflies can be seen. There is little botanical interest at this time of year.
Winter
This is normally a quiet time of year. Bracing clifftop walks and fantastic seascapes are probably the best in Yorkshire. Up to 12 short-eared owls winter here, though in poor 'vole' years there may only be a few. The bird feeding station offers food and shelter to a range of commoner species such as tree sparrows (110 have been counted), greenfinch (60), and smaller numbers of blackbirds, robins, dunnocks, wrens, chaffinches, bramblings and various tit species. The cliff face attracts very few birds except for occasional herring gulls and fulmars, but by January gannets will return in good numbers with occasional days of guillemots in good numbers too.
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/facilities...
Facilities
Facilities
•Visitor centre
•Information centre
•Car park : Car park has no height restrictions. Cycle rack available close to visitor centre.
•Toilets
•Disabled toilets
•Picnic area
•Binocular hire
•Live camera
•Group bookings accepted
•Guided walks available
•Remote location
•Good for walking
•Pushchair friendly
Viewing points
Five cliff-top viewpoints and a bird feeding station. The five viewpoints are:
Grandstand: 200 m from visitor centre/car park, accessible by wheelchairs/pushchairs with care
Bartlett Nab: 400 m from visitor centre/car park and not easily accessible by wheelchairs/pushchairs
Jubilee Corner: 900 m from visitor centre/car park, not easily accessible by wheelchairs/pushchairs
New Roll-up: 500 m from visitor centre/car park, not easily accessible by wheelchairs/pushchairs
Staple Newk: 900m from visitor centre/car park, not easily accessible by wheelchairs/pushchairs.
The bird feeding station is easily accessed, 50 m from visitor centre/car park.
Nature trails
There are two nature trails. The first nature trail leading to five cliff-top viewpoints. The most distant viewpoints are 900 m from the visitor centre. Part of the trail is crushed chalk, with the remainder over worn grass. There is easy wheelchair and pushchair access to one viewpoint only. Paths can be wet and slippery following wet weather conditions, therefore care should be taken. The discovery trail is a shorter farmland walk.
Refreshments available
•Hot drinks
•Cold drinks
•Snacks
•Confectionery
Shop
The shop stocks:
•Binoculars and telescopes
•Books
•Bird food
•Gifts
Educational facilities
The Bempton Field Teaching Scheme operates throughout the year and offers exciting educational opportunities linked with the National Curriculum. The busiest time is from May to July, when breeding seabirds are at their peak. The scheme provides a unique opportunity to discover breeding seabirds, such as gannets and puffins, as well as investigating the challenging habitats in this fantastic coastal location. A truly memorable experience!
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/accessibil...
Accessibility
26 October 2012
This is a Summary Access Statement. A full access statement is available to download from this page
Before you visit
•Clear print leaflet available on request
•Free parking for members. Parking charge for non members. Free parking for carer or essential companion
•Registered Assistance Dogs welcome
•Check accessibility for events and activities
•Wheelchair free of charge to hire. Pre-booking advised
•Live footage on TV in Visitor Centre
How to get here
•Bempton railway station is 1.25 miles away
•The nearest bus stops are on the main B1229 through the village, around 1 mile from the reserve
•No pavement on road to reserve
Car parking
•Four blue badge parking spaces 10 m (13 yards) from the visitor centre on bound gravel and paved path
•60 spaces in main car park, is a short walk to the main entrance of the visitor centre
•Overflow with 60 spaces on grass
•The path surface from the overflow car park is crushed limestone on exiting the field and after 20 m (26 yards) joins the path from the coach drop-off point (see below)
•Drop-off point 50 m (60 yards) from the visitor centre with a crushed limestone surface with a 1:10 sloped descent
•No lighting or height restrictions.
Visitor centre
Situated on ground floor level with step free access. Live footage on TV from the colony. Four circular tables with seating. Outside when weather is fine. Tiled floor surface. Artificial and natural lighting. Access ramp leads to reserve.
Nature trails
The reserve offers visitors a mixture of trails. A mix of bonded tar-spray chip, crushed limestone or mown grass. Most trails are a minimum of 1200mm/47ins wide and the majority lead to the cliff top viewing points (see Viewing Facilities below).
Viewing facilities
Five built viewpoints along the cliff top path, most have seats. In the Visitor Centre there is live footage on TV of the colony. From car park to exit is The Dell - good for small migrant birds - with a narrow grass path with inclines to and from two seats. A bird feeding station is off the path between the coach park and visitor centre.
Toilets
There are toilets and an accessible toilets outside the visitor centre, with level access to all. Note there are no toilet facilities beyond the visitor centre.
Catering
A servery with a hatch facing outside the visitor centre offering hot and cold beverages, snacks and ice creams. Hatch is 900 mm (36 inches) from the ground.
Shop
The shop is within the visitor centre. Staff and volunteers can assist. There is level entry and no doors to enter apart from those at the main entrance. The shop is lit with spot lamps.
Education area
There is currently a short mown grass square to the rear of the visitor centre which serves as an outdoor classroom reached via the access ramp.
Picnic area
Seven picnic tables - four on grass and three with spaces for wheelchairs on crushed limestone surface - situated 25 m/30 yards from the visitor centre.
For more information
Bempton Cliffs
E-mail: bempton.cliffs@rspb.org.uk
Telephone:01262 851179
YO15 1JF
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/directions...
How to get here
By train
Nearest railway station 200 m south of Bempton village. Exit station and turn left, follow road down to church, walk up lane adjacent to church to staggered cross-road junction. Walk across road and take the road adjacent to the White Horse public house, northwards to the reserve. Total walking distance 1.5 miles (2.4 km). Walking time 40 minutes.
By bus
Nearest bus stop in Bempton village, 1 mile (1.5 km) from the reserve. Buses will drop off at any point on request. Disembark at White Horse public house and follow road northwards up the lane to the reserve. Walking time 30 minutes.
By road
The reserve is on the cliff road from the village of Bempton, which is on the B1229 road from Flamborough to Filey. In Bempton village, turn northwards at the White Horse public house and the reserve is at the end of the road after 1 mile (follow the brown tourist signs).
Other ways to get to the reserve
Trains and buses stop at Bempton, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the reserve. The timetables are seasonal so we advise you call the Visitor Centre for further details. Nearest ferry port in Hull and Humberside Airport in north Lincolnshire.
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/ourwork/in...
Management
Our Bempton Cliffs reserve, on the Yorkshire coast, protects over five kilometres of sea cliffs. From April to mid-August, these support England's largest population of seabirds. Grassland and scrub along the cliff tops are also home to breeding and wintering farmland birds.
The RSPB is managing the reserve for the benefit of its wildlife, which also includes seals and porpoises, and with a long-term view to upgrading its protection status.
Cliff-face communities
Bempton's breeding seabirds are internationally important, making the cliffs both a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Protection Area.
Species include kittiwakes, gannets, guillemot, razorbills and puffins. We have specific targets for every one: for instance, we would like to maintain a yearly kittiwake population of 43,000 nesting pairs, producing at least one young each.
During the breeding season, our cliff-top patrols help prevent disturbance by visitors and fishermen.
Leading by example
Unfortunately seabird colonies are vulnerable to environmental threats that lie beyond our control. These include climate change and industrial fishing, which affect the birds' food supplies. We aim to use Bempton to highlight these issues, so that key decision makers will take action to safeguard the long-term future of seabirds. We hope this will lead to Bempton being designated a marine Special Conservation Area.
Room at the top
The grassland and scrub at the top of the cliffs are home to farmland birds such as tree sparrows, skylarks and linnets. Short-eared owls also spend winter here.
We are cutting back scrub and harrowing grassland in order to increase the population of insects and small mammals on which all these birds feed. We also put out extra food when necessary.
Vision for visitors
The seabird spectacle at Bempton makes the reserve very popular during summer, while the farmland birds help generate interest all-year-round. We aim to continue attracting and educating people, and inspiring them to support the marine environment.
Our facilities currently include a shop, picnic area and cliff top walks. We aim to develop these, with a view to increasing numbers to 60,000 visitors per annum over the next five years.
Tracking gannets
For the first time, we're finding out where Bempton's gannets go when they're away from the colony.
RSPB scientists have fitted satellite tags to a number of adult gannets so that we can monitor where they go to catch fish. The tags are designed so that they don't hurt or hinder the birds, and they will eventually fall off when the gannets grow new tail feathers, if not sooner.
We need to find out whether the birds are using areas which the government has earmarked as potential wind farms, and how that might affect them. This information will be used to help plan where to put wind turbines at sea.
What we're doing
•Fourteen adult gannets were fitted with satellite tags in July 2010 (and another 13 in July 2011)
•In 2010 we got data from all 14 tags during the time when the gannets were rearing their chicks, and several kept transmitting data late into the breeding season
•The highest density of recorded locations at sea was within 31-62 miles (50-100 km) of Bempton Cliffs
•The greatest overlap with any of the proposed wind farm areas was with the Hornsea zone, which is nearest to Bempton
•These results are from just one breeding season, so it's unclear just how representative they are of what Bempton's gannets do. We'll monitor them again in future breeding seasons to learn more.
You can find out more about this work on the gannet tracking project page.
© Leanne Boulton, All Rights Reserved
Street candid taken in Glasgow, Scotland. On a busy day in the city the alleyways become conversational highways, a quiet place away from the hustle and bustle.
Three days ago our cabin was surrounded by a huge flock of robins - most of which were babies. After I took this shot of one in search of his dinner - they all vanished, and I haven't seen or heard one since. It is too early for them to have headed south - so I image they have been taken out on a little trip by their parents, where they will be taught navigational and conversational skills. I'll let you know if and when they return.
Whilst the rest of the country basked in glorious sunshine parts of the Yorkshire coast was under a sea fog or locally known as sea fret. Sadly, it did not lift. It was a bit disappointing as it was my first visit here in 5 years!!!
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/index.aspx
Top things to do in Summer
1.Experience the sights, sounds and smells of the miraculous seabird spectacle at the peak of the breeding season
2.The surrounding fields are bejewelled by glorious red campion flowers
3.Enjoy a bite to eat in the family-friendly picnic area
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/about.aspx
A family favourite, and easily the best place in England to see, hear and smell seabirds! More than 200,000 birds (from April to August) make the cliffs seem alive – with adults bringing food to their nests, or young chicks making their first faltering flights.
With huge numbers to watch, beginners can easily learn the difference between gannets, guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and fulmars. The easily recognisable puffins (here between April and July) are always a delight. Specially-created cliff top viewpoints are wheelchair accessible with care.
You can watch our 200,000 seabirds LIVE on CCTV through the breeding season from March to October. Meet our information assistants and hear about the live action, watch it for yourself on our two TV screens and enjoy the close-up images of our nesting gannets.
Opening times
The reserve is open at all times. From March to October, the visitor centre is open daily from 9.30 am to 5 pm, and from November to February, 9.30 am to 4 pm.
Entrance charges
Entry is free of charge to members all year. There's a charge for non-members of £5 per car, minibus £8 and coach £10.
If you are new to birdwatching...
The birds are easy to see during breeding season - creating a fantastic seascape and bird spectacle. Only eight target seabird species breed here, so learning to identify birds is simple. In winter, common passerines (buntings, sparrows and finches) and short-eared owls (vary in numbers from one year to next) can be seen and identified.
Information for families
Reserve already popular with families. Various family events included in our programme throughout the year. Backpack Activity days very popular.
Information for dog owners
Dogs are welcome on the reserve, however they must be kept on leads at all times. This is to ensure that ground nesting birds are not disturbed, and also to ensure the safety of dogs on the cliff top.
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/star_speci...
Star species
Our star species are some of the most interesting birds you may see on your visit to the reserve.
Gannet
Look for stunning gannets cruising around at the base of the cliffs and fishing out to sea by rising up into the air before plunging in headfirst with their wings close.
Kittiwake
Visit Bempton in spring and early summer and your ears will be filled with the unmistakable 'kitti-wake' calls of this dainty gull. Look along the cliffs to see them packed onto their tiny nesting ledges.
Puffin
Enjoy the comical antics of puffins in spring and early summer from the viewing points on the cliffs. Watch the adults returning from fishing forays at sea with sandeels hanging from their colourful beaks.
Short-eared owl
Short-eared owls can be seen hunting over the clifftop grassland here in winter. The afternoons are a good time to spot them banking and gliding just above the ground; their piercing yellow eyes scanning for voles moving in the grass below.
Tree sparrow
Flocks of tree sparrows can be seen in the cliff top fields and are regular visitors to the feeding stations. Listen out for their conversational calls - a hard and piercing 'tek'.
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/seasonal_h...
Seasonal highlights
Each season brings a different experience at our nature reserves. In spring, the air is filled with birdsong as they compete to establish territories and attract a mate. In summer, look out for young birds making their first venture into the outside world. Autumn brings large movements of migrating birds - some heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter. In winter, look out for large flocks of birds gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm.
Spring
Breeding seabirds start to return, including gannets, puffins, guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, kittiwakes, herring gulls and shags. Farmland birds such as skylarks, tree sparrows, linnets, meadow pipits, reed and corn buntings can be seen. There are normally short-eared owls and peregrines to be seen too. Migratory birds include arriving wheatears and various warblers, while over-wintering thrushes can be seen on the reserve before moving back into mainland Europe. Porpoises can often be seen on calm days while early morning visits may provide sightings of roe deer.
Summer
Breeding season is in full swing with all 200,000 seabirds with eggs or chicks. Breeding tree sparrows, whitethroats, grasshopper warblers, sedge warblers, skylarks, linnets, reed buntings, rock and meadow pipits can be seen within 200 m of the visitor centre and car park. A moderate range of the commoner butterflies may be seen on sunny days, along with day-flying moths such as cinnabars, burnet moths and occasionally hummingbird hawk-moths. Trailside flora is dominated by red campion, black knapweed, various thistles and orchids including common spotted, northern marsh and pyramidal.
Autumn
All seabirds departed and breeding finished except for gannets. The autumnal migration can be exciting at Bempton owing to its coastal location and being on a headland. Short-eared owls begin to arrive to stay for the winter (depending on food availability) but the main interest is in the arrival of migrants such as willow warblers, chiffchaffs, whitethroats, lesser whitethroats, reed warblers, sedge warblers, goldcrests, stonechats, whinchats, wheatears and redstarts. Scarce species occur annually such as red-backed shrikes, and barred and icterine warblers. October is peak time to witness the winter thrush arrival, often hundreds of redwings, blackbirds, song thrushes and fieldfares occur along with occasional ring ouzels. Offshore, movements of seabirds may be seen in ideal weather conditions (strong NW winds). These include Manx and sooty shearwaters, Arctic and great skuas. Around the car park area migrant hawker and common darter dragonflies can be seen. There is little botanical interest at this time of year.
Winter
This is normally a quiet time of year. Bracing clifftop walks and fantastic seascapes are probably the best in Yorkshire. Up to 12 short-eared owls winter here, though in poor 'vole' years there may only be a few. The bird feeding station offers food and shelter to a range of commoner species such as tree sparrows (110 have been counted), greenfinch (60), and smaller numbers of blackbirds, robins, dunnocks, wrens, chaffinches, bramblings and various tit species. The cliff face attracts very few birds except for occasional herring gulls and fulmars, but by January gannets will return in good numbers with occasional days of guillemots in good numbers too.
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/facilities...
Facilities
Facilities
•Visitor centre
•Information centre
•Car park : Car park has no height restrictions. Cycle rack available close to visitor centre.
•Toilets
•Disabled toilets
•Picnic area
•Binocular hire
•Live camera
•Group bookings accepted
•Guided walks available
•Remote location
•Good for walking
•Pushchair friendly
Viewing points
Five cliff-top viewpoints and a bird feeding station. The five viewpoints are:
Grandstand: 200 m from visitor centre/car park, accessible by wheelchairs/pushchairs with care
Bartlett Nab: 400 m from visitor centre/car park and not easily accessible by wheelchairs/pushchairs
Jubilee Corner: 900 m from visitor centre/car park, not easily accessible by wheelchairs/pushchairs
New Roll-up: 500 m from visitor centre/car park, not easily accessible by wheelchairs/pushchairs
Staple Newk: 900m from visitor centre/car park, not easily accessible by wheelchairs/pushchairs.
The bird feeding station is easily accessed, 50 m from visitor centre/car park.
Nature trails
There are two nature trails. The first nature trail leading to five cliff-top viewpoints. The most distant viewpoints are 900 m from the visitor centre. Part of the trail is crushed chalk, with the remainder over worn grass. There is easy wheelchair and pushchair access to one viewpoint only. Paths can be wet and slippery following wet weather conditions, therefore care should be taken. The discovery trail is a shorter farmland walk.
Refreshments available
•Hot drinks
•Cold drinks
•Snacks
•Confectionery
Shop
The shop stocks:
•Binoculars and telescopes
•Books
•Bird food
•Gifts
Educational facilities
The Bempton Field Teaching Scheme operates throughout the year and offers exciting educational opportunities linked with the National Curriculum. The busiest time is from May to July, when breeding seabirds are at their peak. The scheme provides a unique opportunity to discover breeding seabirds, such as gannets and puffins, as well as investigating the challenging habitats in this fantastic coastal location. A truly memorable experience!
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/accessibil...
Accessibility
26 October 2012
This is a Summary Access Statement. A full access statement is available to download from this page
Before you visit
•Clear print leaflet available on request
•Free parking for members. Parking charge for non members. Free parking for carer or essential companion
•Registered Assistance Dogs welcome
•Check accessibility for events and activities
•Wheelchair free of charge to hire. Pre-booking advised
•Live footage on TV in Visitor Centre
How to get here
•Bempton railway station is 1.25 miles away
•The nearest bus stops are on the main B1229 through the village, around 1 mile from the reserve
•No pavement on road to reserve
Car parking
•Four blue badge parking spaces 10 m (13 yards) from the visitor centre on bound gravel and paved path
•60 spaces in main car park, is a short walk to the main entrance of the visitor centre
•Overflow with 60 spaces on grass
•The path surface from the overflow car park is crushed limestone on exiting the field and after 20 m (26 yards) joins the path from the coach drop-off point (see below)
•Drop-off point 50 m (60 yards) from the visitor centre with a crushed limestone surface with a 1:10 sloped descent
•No lighting or height restrictions.
Visitor centre
Situated on ground floor level with step free access. Live footage on TV from the colony. Four circular tables with seating. Outside when weather is fine. Tiled floor surface. Artificial and natural lighting. Access ramp leads to reserve.
Nature trails
The reserve offers visitors a mixture of trails. A mix of bonded tar-spray chip, crushed limestone or mown grass. Most trails are a minimum of 1200mm/47ins wide and the majority lead to the cliff top viewing points (see Viewing Facilities below).
Viewing facilities
Five built viewpoints along the cliff top path, most have seats. In the Visitor Centre there is live footage on TV of the colony. From car park to exit is The Dell - good for small migrant birds - with a narrow grass path with inclines to and from two seats. A bird feeding station is off the path between the coach park and visitor centre.
Toilets
There are toilets and an accessible toilets outside the visitor centre, with level access to all. Note there are no toilet facilities beyond the visitor centre.
Catering
A servery with a hatch facing outside the visitor centre offering hot and cold beverages, snacks and ice creams. Hatch is 900 mm (36 inches) from the ground.
Shop
The shop is within the visitor centre. Staff and volunteers can assist. There is level entry and no doors to enter apart from those at the main entrance. The shop is lit with spot lamps.
Education area
There is currently a short mown grass square to the rear of the visitor centre which serves as an outdoor classroom reached via the access ramp.
Picnic area
Seven picnic tables - four on grass and three with spaces for wheelchairs on crushed limestone surface - situated 25 m/30 yards from the visitor centre.
For more information
Bempton Cliffs
E-mail: bempton.cliffs@rspb.org.uk
Telephone:01262 851179
YO15 1JF
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/directions...
How to get here
By train
Nearest railway station 200 m south of Bempton village. Exit station and turn left, follow road down to church, walk up lane adjacent to church to staggered cross-road junction. Walk across road and take the road adjacent to the White Horse public house, northwards to the reserve. Total walking distance 1.5 miles (2.4 km). Walking time 40 minutes.
By bus
Nearest bus stop in Bempton village, 1 mile (1.5 km) from the reserve. Buses will drop off at any point on request. Disembark at White Horse public house and follow road northwards up the lane to the reserve. Walking time 30 minutes.
By road
The reserve is on the cliff road from the village of Bempton, which is on the B1229 road from Flamborough to Filey. In Bempton village, turn northwards at the White Horse public house and the reserve is at the end of the road after 1 mile (follow the brown tourist signs).
Other ways to get to the reserve
Trains and buses stop at Bempton, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the reserve. The timetables are seasonal so we advise you call the Visitor Centre for further details. Nearest ferry port in Hull and Humberside Airport in north Lincolnshire.
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/ourwork/in...
Management
Our Bempton Cliffs reserve, on the Yorkshire coast, protects over five kilometres of sea cliffs. From April to mid-August, these support England's largest population of seabirds. Grassland and scrub along the cliff tops are also home to breeding and wintering farmland birds.
The RSPB is managing the reserve for the benefit of its wildlife, which also includes seals and porpoises, and with a long-term view to upgrading its protection status.
Cliff-face communities
Bempton's breeding seabirds are internationally important, making the cliffs both a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Protection Area.
Species include kittiwakes, gannets, guillemot, razorbills and puffins. We have specific targets for every one: for instance, we would like to maintain a yearly kittiwake population of 43,000 nesting pairs, producing at least one young each.
During the breeding season, our cliff-top patrols help prevent disturbance by visitors and fishermen.
Leading by example
Unfortunately seabird colonies are vulnerable to environmental threats that lie beyond our control. These include climate change and industrial fishing, which affect the birds' food supplies. We aim to use Bempton to highlight these issues, so that key decision makers will take action to safeguard the long-term future of seabirds. We hope this will lead to Bempton being designated a marine Special Conservation Area.
Room at the top
The grassland and scrub at the top of the cliffs are home to farmland birds such as tree sparrows, skylarks and linnets. Short-eared owls also spend winter here.
We are cutting back scrub and harrowing grassland in order to increase the population of insects and small mammals on which all these birds feed. We also put out extra food when necessary.
Vision for visitors
The seabird spectacle at Bempton makes the reserve very popular during summer, while the farmland birds help generate interest all-year-round. We aim to continue attracting and educating people, and inspiring them to support the marine environment.
Our facilities currently include a shop, picnic area and cliff top walks. We aim to develop these, with a view to increasing numbers to 60,000 visitors per annum over the next five years.
Tracking gannets
For the first time, we're finding out where Bempton's gannets go when they're away from the colony.
RSPB scientists have fitted satellite tags to a number of adult gannets so that we can monitor where they go to catch fish. The tags are designed so that they don't hurt or hinder the birds, and they will eventually fall off when the gannets grow new tail feathers, if not sooner.
We need to find out whether the birds are using areas which the government has earmarked as potential wind farms, and how that might affect them. This information will be used to help plan where to put wind turbines at sea.
What we're doing
•Fourteen adult gannets were fitted with satellite tags in July 2010 (and another 13 in July 2011)
•In 2010 we got data from all 14 tags during the time when the gannets were rearing their chicks, and several kept transmitting data late into the breeding season
•The highest density of recorded locations at sea was within 31-62 miles (50-100 km) of Bempton Cliffs
•The greatest overlap with any of the proposed wind farm areas was with the Hornsea zone, which is nearest to Bempton
•These results are from just one breeding season, so it's unclear just how representative they are of what Bempton's gannets do. We'll monitor them again in future breeding seasons to learn more.
You can find out more about this work on the gannet tracking project page.
No breakfast, as usual. At that age I was still too self-conscious to present myself in the breakfast room of an hotel and dine in front of other people. Actually, I'd not like doing it even now. I dreaded conversational overtures ("What brings you to Glasgow, then?") from fellow breakfasters, and you can imagine the sort of black pudding, fried bread and baked beans stuff they'd have served up in those days at a B&B in Glasgow. I was also on a tight schedule. I'd just handed in the room keys and was on my way home. Standing on the pavement next to my trouser leg would have been the small, amazingly cheap (about £2, I think), all-leather suitcase I'd bought from Woolworths especially for these Scottish trips. Admittedly its metal frame bent under my weight when, on a subsequent occasion, I tried to use it as a seat in the corridor of a crowded train.
So, just time for a few snaps here at the Buchanan bus station and a final snoop around Anderston Cross before making tracks to Glasgow Central, with a stop-off planned at Preston on the way back to Bristol and my own bed. I'd probably be in time to drop off my haul of colour films at Hodders in Staple Hill, and I could post the black & whites off to John Fozard the next morning. It was Thursday 18th May 1978 and the bus was a 1964 Bristol FS6G in the gorgeous colours of Central SMT. Where else, by this time, could you see the lighter relief colour applied to the window surrounds?
In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this.
– Terry Pratchett
The hardest thing to cook is a scrambled egg. The hardest portrait to capture is a cat. They know before you do when you are going to press the shutter.
I am practicing for my conversational portrait class in a few weeks. I I can get a portrait of a cat…. Then I can take a portrait of anything.
I shot this with the Nikon Zf and the 135mm Plena. Raw file processed in NX Studio NiK collection Silver Efex Pro v7 in Photoshop beta.
#Nikon100 #nikonlove #kelbyone #photography #onOne @NikonUSA
#mirrorless #135mmplena #NikonNoFilter #niksoftware #nikonUSA #Epson #Zf
#wacom #xritephoto #calibrite #onone #sunbounce #fineartphotography #kolarivision
#DxO #iamgenerationimage #iamnikon #B&H #PhotogenicbyBenQ
#nikonLOVE #hoodman #infrared #pixelshift
#nikonnofilter #nikonambassador
Every year in early November, all employees including the shunting horses - even the conversational Latin speaking ones like Hubert here, are given a full health check. In charge of operations, Barry Bullhead from the Ministry of Misery, has hired in an ancient dynamometer coach from British Railways to gauge employee pulling strength.
Hubert is the first off the mark, and after a couple of grunts in Latin, has no problem pulling the ancient heavy pile of wood, leather, brass and steel along the tracks at a whopping 4.65 miles per hour over a distance of 100 yards.
To the right, ‘Oh my gawd’ Oliver looks on in horror, for whilst he’s well known for pulling people’s legs and playing tricks, he’s pretty sure he won’t be able to pull the carriage even a 16th of an inch.
Des chaises légères permettaient aux dames de créer à volonté des espaces de conversation.
ENGLISH :
The furniture is representative of the mix of current styles of the Second Empire: antique seats in Louis XIV style and Renaissance bronzes. Light chairs allow the ladies to create unlimited conversational spaces
I have been in a posting mood of late. For me it is very similar to being in a conversational mood. Sometimes I feel like talking with people... usually I don't. And when I don't I am quite content to be on my own reading, watching a show, working on a project, whatever. Posting is the same. I have to be in that same type of mood since I am not really partial to posting for the sake of putting an image up. I try to make each post I do have some type of additional value or meaning to it. Lately that has been coming pretty readily. I won't look askance at it.
This shot of my favorite bridge came from a work project. I was doing an experiment with JCH Street Pan 400. When that film first came out it seemed like the published developing data for it resulted in film that was way too hot (over developed and high contrast). I don't mind turning contrast up to 11 on occasion but this seemed unnecessarily high and not even really the film's fault but more on the processing side. Eventually we settled on a processing time that was about 20-30% shorter which produced negatives that were a little less harsh out of the gate. But my JCH was still pretty steep in its curve and tended to lose shadows way faster than I wanted. I had had a similar experience with Ferrania P30 and one of my tricks with that film was to overexpose it a stop and then pull in developing. I took a walk one day during lunch with a roll of JCH in my Hasselblad, rated it at ISO 200 and then had it pulled 1 stop in developing. The results I thought still had good contrast without being too harsh.
Anyway, this is all really an aside to the image. I am posting this because I liked this framing of the St. Johns Bridge. For all the years I have walked around, over and under this span I treasure those times when I find a view of it I have never encountered before. This image just so happened to have a decent side story to share with it.
Hasselblad 500C/M
JCH Street Pan at ISO 200 and Pull 1 stop
Coordinates: 31°12'15"N 78°4'24"E - Dodra (9200 feet) and Kwar (8000 feet) Villages, near the Indian/Tibetan border - unconnected by road, and cut off for seven months of the year due to heavy snows (map) - (full photo set)
I've just been stalked by a tiger at 10,000 feet, coming over a snowbound mountain pass from the remote village of Genwali with Vinay and Sumit a couple of brave city kids I've brought along from New Delhi as translators. They have never climbed a mountain before, never even encountered snow. [Full Genwali trek photolog here]
In Gutu, at the trailhead of the infamous Kedarnath trek I encounter Jim, a genuine wild mountain man. For the last 23 winters this superhuman garbage man from Lake Louise has traversed the remotest Himalayas by snowshoe and back-country ski, conducting remarkable field research as an amateur ethno-ecologist. He is so impressed with the difficult route we’ve just taken that he invites me to hang with him at his headquarters at the once-glorious Prince Hotel in Mussoorie.
Jim shows me his precious khukri dagger. "It was a gift from an old Ghurka veteran I lived with. In the Pacific, he assassinated Japanese officers with this knife", he says proudly. "I would never go into the mountains without it. Back in '86, I woke up in my sleeping bag to a hyena drooling on my face. My khukri split its skull clean through."
Jim and I hike up the ridge to play Frisbee in a field next to some ruins. He throws a curving backhand and launches into one of his brilliant lectures. “See those little huts next to the main building? Geodesist Sir George Everest, Surveyor General of India, stowed his Nepali concubines there from 1818 until 1843 while he was laboring to establish the height of the world's most famous mountain (named in his honor in 1865) and the larger trigonometric survey of India, on which depended the accurate mapping of the subcontinent.” Jim can talk like this for days without tiring, and I soak it up.
"Draw me a map to the most beautiful place you've ever been in the Himalayas", I ask Jim. He is only too happy to share.
"There is a village named Kwar just 45km from the Tibetan border", he says, "where the people are friendlier, the architecture better, and the religion stranger than anywhere I've been up in these mountains. . . Say, if you're going to go, would you mind delivering some photographs I took 16 years ago of those villagers?"
--
Days later, I am a little lost on a mule trail somewhere near the fork of the Rupin river, 15 km short of my destination. I sit down to try to make sense of the hand-drawn map. Perhaps declining to hire one of those crooked guides from Naitwar (the village at the end of the road) wasn't such a hot idea after all.
Hill people stride cheerfully past with improbable loads roped to their backs. Men haul stone slate shingles up the mountain, one heavy shingle at a time. A handsome man in a suit jacket walks by carrying a baby calf in his arms.
A schoolboy with a shy smile and a stubborn sheep stops to let the animal graze on flowers from low-hanging tree branches. Thirty seconds of sign language and emergency Hindi is all it takes to establish everything I will ever know about him. He is Krishana, his sheep is Gablu, and we are going to Kewar together.
--
Kewar turns out to be a magnificent village an hour’s hard climb straight up from the river. Homes with gracefully carved pagoda roofs line the steep ridge and offer their residents sweeping panoramic views of snow-capped mountains from sumptuous wrap-around balconies. The slopes of the rocky hills are softened by orchards full of fresh fruit.
Kewar is also very remote - as I enter the village I stand aside for a parade of grim-faced men. They are carrying a violently ill woman down the mountain. It will take them two days just to reach the nearest road, and the nearest hospital is a day's drive from there.
Harpal, a university student studying English in the provincial capital of Shimla, is beside himself with joy to lodge me in his family's gorgeous 4-story wood and stone home. I am surprised to find a satellite dish on it. Lying asleep in the sun in front of the home is a pony-sized mountain dog. Harpal assures me that the iron collar around their throats protect the village dogs during routine confrontations with tigers and bears.
That night, Harpal's demure sisters serve dahl and rice. They say nothing, responding to none of my questions, and emphatically refuse to eat with us. They won't even meet my gaze - to do so would rupture the cultural dam that insulates the world of women from the world of men.
Harpal proudly turns the television on so we can enjoy our dinner in the conversational company of CNN. I ask him if he watches much television. "Not much", he says, "but my sisters watch 3-4 hours most days." I shake my head. There are only 4 hours of electricity rationed out each day. These young women carry heavy pails of water up steep hills and work in the fields with the most basic tools, yet they follow Bombay's soap operas with religious devotion. I am secretly delighted when the electricity dies and we are left in silence to finish our meal.
I tell my new friends that I wish to repay them for their kindess. I have run out of the popular little LED flashlights that I usually give away to my hosts. But I've been in India for long enough now to know that I a little cultural exchange will be just as treasured. I offer to sing an exotic Western pop song.
Harpal and his sisters listen with angelic concentration in the lamp-light as I earnestly serenade them with The Chelsea Hotel, Leonard Cohen's ironic tribute to the queen of drugs and rock and roll. When it comes to the bit where Janis Joplin is "giving me head on the unmade bed while the limousines wait in the street", I smile sweetly and mumble incomprehensibly.
The next morning, Harpals' sisters speak excellent English to me.
--
I am introduced to the village goldsmith, who hand-crafts the fantastic gold jewelry that the older women wear. His is a dying trade. Harpal's sisters and the other young women in the village scorn these traditional tribal ornaments. None of the actresses on Bollywood TV wear them.
Television is teaching these once-proud people to think of themselves as unfashionable and poor. Wherever I go, the few people who speak English apologize to me for the "poor facilities" and the state of their "backward villages". The young men yearn to move to the big cities like New Delhi. People smile politely when I try to point out that here they are surrounded by beautiful mountains, bountiful orchards, and enviable homes, whereas the rural people I’ve met in the big cities live in squalid ghettos without a stitch of dignity.
--
Apparently, it is a great honor to meet the creepy village shaman, an oracle whose epileptic fits at religious festivities yield prophesies that are gospel to everyone in a hundred-kilometer radius.
Jim's photographs are received with similar reverence. I am given a royal welcome, invited ceremoniously into homes to distribute 4x6 photos from 1989 to villagers who have never seen so much as a Polaroid of themselves before. And they love it.
So this must be what it feels like, I think to myself, to descend in the night in a flaming spaceship and casually dispense crop circles. I start to look at the shaman in a whole new light.
My spiritual self-satisfaction doesn't last long. The nearby village of Jhakha has burned to the ground, and the photographs I give away there are bittersweet, showing homes that no longer stand.
Back in Kewar, I learn too late that some of the people in the remaining photographs have died tragically. The photo of a man who just 3 months earlier went out hunting and fell from a cliff goes to his speechless 16-year old son. The photo of the little 2-year-old girl that Jim cherished most goes to her elderly parents. They struggle to keep from sobbing in front of the foreigner. It is no comfort to me that I am as unprepared for this than they are. They clutch at the only photograph they will ever have of their only daughter, dead now for two years.
Later I return to find them a little less distraught, and they quietly ask me to take their photo.
Their neighbor the goldsmith takes me to his home. I photograph his mother, resplendent in her heavy gold earrings.
I am about to leave when the goldsmith's daughter crawls up to the door of his wooden home and skewers me with her eyes. We stare at each other for a small eternity. I snap her photograph as an afterthough, and a chill runs up my spine.
Her photo will find its way back to Kewar, I promise myself. The circle is begun again.
Realizing that gaining your vision will not happen. I love going into shoots without any planning because I am never disappointed with myself. Whatever happens, happens.
It’s Sunday at Polbrook Gurney Colliery.
On this line, there isn’t normally a Sunday service, though to be honest there is little need for one on other days either due to the line running from the edge of nowhere to the middle of nowhere and all other places of insignificant nowhereness in between.
Today the local museum are testing out their recently restored GWR steam railmotor, and here it is slowing to pick up a few of our regulars. Control in London are completely unaware of what’s going on here, and it’s just as well for its highly unlikely that they’d be happy. But of course in Little England of olden times, communications aren’t what they are these days, and it took ages to get anywhere. Though of course if travelling by public, transport little has changed even in these modern times.
Barry Bullhead and Terry Tuttle-Thomas-Smythe are keen to see if the engine within will have enough spare steam to heat a moonshine still, and of course lack of passengers will leave lots of space to store casks and jars of illicit booze.
Meanwhile, to the right, Hubert the conversational Latin speaking horse is thinking that whilst he loves the ruby red finish, what idiot decided to paint the roof white?
~~~🤔~~~
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/index.aspx
Top things to do in Summer
1.Experience the sights, sounds and smells of the miraculous seabird spectacle at the peak of the breeding season
2.The surrounding fields are bejewelled by glorious red campion flowers
3.Enjoy a bite to eat in the family-friendly picnic area
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/about.aspx
A family favourite, and easily the best place in England to see, hear and smell seabirds! More than 200,000 birds (from April to August) make the cliffs seem alive – with adults bringing food to their nests, or young chicks making their first faltering flights.
With huge numbers to watch, beginners can easily learn the difference between gannets, guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and fulmars. The easily recognisable puffins (here between April and July) are always a delight. Specially-created cliff top viewpoints are wheelchair accessible with care.
You can watch our 200,000 seabirds LIVE on CCTV through the breeding season from March to October. Meet our information assistants and hear about the live action, watch it for yourself on our two TV screens and enjoy the close-up images of our nesting gannets.
Opening times
The reserve is open at all times. From March to October, the visitor centre is open daily from 9.30 am to 5 pm, and from November to February, 9.30 am to 4 pm.
Entrance charges
Entry is free of charge to members all year. There's a charge for non-members of £5 per car, minibus £8 and coach £10.
If you are new to birdwatching...
The birds are easy to see during breeding season - creating a fantastic seascape and bird spectacle. Only eight target seabird species breed here, so learning to identify birds is simple. In winter, common passerines (buntings, sparrows and finches) and short-eared owls (vary in numbers from one year to next) can be seen and identified.
Information for families
Reserve already popular with families. Various family events included in our programme throughout the year. Backpack Activity days very popular.
Information for dog owners
Dogs are welcome on the reserve, however they must be kept on leads at all times. This is to ensure that ground nesting birds are not disturbed, and also to ensure the safety of dogs on the cliff top.
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/star_speci...
Star species
Our star species are some of the most interesting birds you may see on your visit to the reserve.
Gannet
Look for stunning gannets cruising around at the base of the cliffs and fishing out to sea by rising up into the air before plunging in headfirst with their wings close.
Kittiwake
Visit Bempton in spring and early summer and your ears will be filled with the unmistakable 'kitti-wake' calls of this dainty gull. Look along the cliffs to see them packed onto their tiny nesting ledges.
Puffin
Enjoy the comical antics of puffins in spring and early summer from the viewing points on the cliffs. Watch the adults returning from fishing forays at sea with sandeels hanging from their colourful beaks.
Short-eared owl
Short-eared owls can be seen hunting over the clifftop grassland here in winter. The afternoons are a good time to spot them banking and gliding just above the ground; their piercing yellow eyes scanning for voles moving in the grass below.
Tree sparrow
Flocks of tree sparrows can be seen in the cliff top fields and are regular visitors to the feeding stations. Listen out for their conversational calls - a hard and piercing 'tek'.
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/seasonal_h...
Seasonal highlights
Each season brings a different experience at our nature reserves. In spring, the air is filled with birdsong as they compete to establish territories and attract a mate. In summer, look out for young birds making their first venture into the outside world. Autumn brings large movements of migrating birds - some heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter. In winter, look out for large flocks of birds gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm.
Spring
Breeding seabirds start to return, including gannets, puffins, guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, kittiwakes, herring gulls and shags. Farmland birds such as skylarks, tree sparrows, linnets, meadow pipits, reed and corn buntings can be seen. There are normally short-eared owls and peregrines to be seen too. Migratory birds include arriving wheatears and various warblers, while over-wintering thrushes can be seen on the reserve before moving back into mainland Europe. Porpoises can often be seen on calm days while early morning visits may provide sightings of roe deer.
Summer
Breeding season is in full swing with all 200,000 seabirds with eggs or chicks. Breeding tree sparrows, whitethroats, grasshopper warblers, sedge warblers, skylarks, linnets, reed buntings, rock and meadow pipits can be seen within 200 m of the visitor centre and car park. A moderate range of the commoner butterflies may be seen on sunny days, along with day-flying moths such as cinnabars, burnet moths and occasionally hummingbird hawk-moths. Trailside flora is dominated by red campion, black knapweed, various thistles and orchids including common spotted, northern marsh and pyramidal.
Autumn
All seabirds departed and breeding finished except for gannets. The autumnal migration can be exciting at Bempton owing to its coastal location and being on a headland. Short-eared owls begin to arrive to stay for the winter (depending on food availability) but the main interest is in the arrival of migrants such as willow warblers, chiffchaffs, whitethroats, lesser whitethroats, reed warblers, sedge warblers, goldcrests, stonechats, whinchats, wheatears and redstarts. Scarce species occur annually such as red-backed shrikes, and barred and icterine warblers. October is peak time to witness the winter thrush arrival, often hundreds of redwings, blackbirds, song thrushes and fieldfares occur along with occasional ring ouzels. Offshore, movements of seabirds may be seen in ideal weather conditions (strong NW winds). These include Manx and sooty shearwaters, Arctic and great skuas. Around the car park area migrant hawker and common darter dragonflies can be seen. There is little botanical interest at this time of year.
Winter
This is normally a quiet time of year. Bracing clifftop walks and fantastic seascapes are probably the best in Yorkshire. Up to 12 short-eared owls winter here, though in poor 'vole' years there may only be a few. The bird feeding station offers food and shelter to a range of commoner species such as tree sparrows (110 have been counted), greenfinch (60), and smaller numbers of blackbirds, robins, dunnocks, wrens, chaffinches, bramblings and various tit species. The cliff face attracts very few birds except for occasional herring gulls and fulmars, but by January gannets will return in good numbers with occasional days of guillemots in good numbers too.
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/facilities...
Facilities
Facilities
•Visitor centre
•Information centre
•Car park : Car park has no height restrictions. Cycle rack available close to visitor centre.
•Toilets
•Disabled toilets
•Picnic area
•Binocular hire
•Live camera
•Group bookings accepted
•Guided walks available
•Remote location
•Good for walking
•Pushchair friendly
Viewing points
Five cliff-top viewpoints and a bird feeding station. The five viewpoints are:
Grandstand: 200 m from visitor centre/car park, accessible by wheelchairs/pushchairs with care
Bartlett Nab: 400 m from visitor centre/car park and not easily accessible by wheelchairs/pushchairs
Jubilee Corner: 900 m from visitor centre/car park, not easily accessible by wheelchairs/pushchairs
New Roll-up: 500 m from visitor centre/car park, not easily accessible by wheelchairs/pushchairs
Staple Newk: 900m from visitor centre/car park, not easily accessible by wheelchairs/pushchairs.
The bird feeding station is easily accessed, 50 m from visitor centre/car park.
Nature trails
There are two nature trails. The first nature trail leading to five cliff-top viewpoints. The most distant viewpoints are 900 m from the visitor centre. Part of the trail is crushed chalk, with the remainder over worn grass. There is easy wheelchair and pushchair access to one viewpoint only. Paths can be wet and slippery following wet weather conditions, therefore care should be taken. The discovery trail is a shorter farmland walk.
Refreshments available
•Hot drinks
•Cold drinks
•Snacks
•Confectionery
Shop
The shop stocks:
•Binoculars and telescopes
•Books
•Bird food
•Gifts
Educational facilities
The Bempton Field Teaching Scheme operates throughout the year and offers exciting educational opportunities linked with the National Curriculum. The busiest time is from May to July, when breeding seabirds are at their peak. The scheme provides a unique opportunity to discover breeding seabirds, such as gannets and puffins, as well as investigating the challenging habitats in this fantastic coastal location. A truly memorable experience!
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/accessibil...
Accessibility
26 October 2012
This is a Summary Access Statement. A full access statement is available to download from this page
Before you visit
•Clear print leaflet available on request
•Free parking for members. Parking charge for non members. Free parking for carer or essential companion
•Registered Assistance Dogs welcome
•Check accessibility for events and activities
•Wheelchair free of charge to hire. Pre-booking advised
•Live footage on TV in Visitor Centre
How to get here
•Bempton railway station is 1.25 miles away
•The nearest bus stops are on the main B1229 through the village, around 1 mile from the reserve
•No pavement on road to reserve
Car parking
•Four blue badge parking spaces 10 m (13 yards) from the visitor centre on bound gravel and paved path
•60 spaces in main car park, is a short walk to the main entrance of the visitor centre
•Overflow with 60 spaces on grass
•The path surface from the overflow car park is crushed limestone on exiting the field and after 20 m (26 yards) joins the path from the coach drop-off point (see below)
•Drop-off point 50 m (60 yards) from the visitor centre with a crushed limestone surface with a 1:10 sloped descent
•No lighting or height restrictions.
Visitor centre
Situated on ground floor level with step free access. Live footage on TV from the colony. Four circular tables with seating. Outside when weather is fine. Tiled floor surface. Artificial and natural lighting. Access ramp leads to reserve.
Nature trails
The reserve offers visitors a mixture of trails. A mix of bonded tar-spray chip, crushed limestone or mown grass. Most trails are a minimum of 1200mm/47ins wide and the majority lead to the cliff top viewing points (see Viewing Facilities below).
Viewing facilities
Five built viewpoints along the cliff top path, most have seats. In the Visitor Centre there is live footage on TV of the colony. From car park to exit is The Dell - good for small migrant birds - with a narrow grass path with inclines to and from two seats. A bird feeding station is off the path between the coach park and visitor centre.
Toilets
There are toilets and an accessible toilets outside the visitor centre, with level access to all. Note there are no toilet facilities beyond the visitor centre.
Catering
A servery with a hatch facing outside the visitor centre offering hot and cold beverages, snacks and ice creams. Hatch is 900 mm (36 inches) from the ground.
Shop
The shop is within the visitor centre. Staff and volunteers can assist. There is level entry and no doors to enter apart from those at the main entrance. The shop is lit with spot lamps.
Education area
There is currently a short mown grass square to the rear of the visitor centre which serves as an outdoor classroom reached via the access ramp.
Picnic area
Seven picnic tables - four on grass and three with spaces for wheelchairs on crushed limestone surface - situated 25 m/30 yards from the visitor centre.
For more information
Bempton Cliffs
E-mail: bempton.cliffs@rspb.org.uk
Telephone:01262 851179
YO15 1JF
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/directions...
How to get here
By train
Nearest railway station 200 m south of Bempton village. Exit station and turn left, follow road down to church, walk up lane adjacent to church to staggered cross-road junction. Walk across road and take the road adjacent to the White Horse public house, northwards to the reserve. Total walking distance 1.5 miles (2.4 km). Walking time 40 minutes.
By bus
Nearest bus stop in Bempton village, 1 mile (1.5 km) from the reserve. Buses will drop off at any point on request. Disembark at White Horse public house and follow road northwards up the lane to the reserve. Walking time 30 minutes.
By road
The reserve is on the cliff road from the village of Bempton, which is on the B1229 road from Flamborough to Filey. In Bempton village, turn northwards at the White Horse public house and the reserve is at the end of the road after 1 mile (follow the brown tourist signs).
Other ways to get to the reserve
Trains and buses stop at Bempton, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the reserve. The timetables are seasonal so we advise you call the Visitor Centre for further details. Nearest ferry port in Hull and Humberside Airport in north Lincolnshire.
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/ourwork/in...
Management
Our Bempton Cliffs reserve, on the Yorkshire coast, protects over five kilometres of sea cliffs. From April to mid-August, these support England's largest population of seabirds. Grassland and scrub along the cliff tops are also home to breeding and wintering farmland birds.
The RSPB is managing the reserve for the benefit of its wildlife, which also includes seals and porpoises, and with a long-term view to upgrading its protection status.
Cliff-face communities
Bempton's breeding seabirds are internationally important, making the cliffs both a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Protection Area.
Species include kittiwakes, gannets, guillemot, razorbills and puffins. We have specific targets for every one: for instance, we would like to maintain a yearly kittiwake population of 43,000 nesting pairs, producing at least one young each.
During the breeding season, our cliff-top patrols help prevent disturbance by visitors and fishermen.
Leading by example
Unfortunately seabird colonies are vulnerable to environmental threats that lie beyond our control. These include climate change and industrial fishing, which affect the birds' food supplies. We aim to use Bempton to highlight these issues, so that key decision makers will take action to safeguard the long-term future of seabirds. We hope this will lead to Bempton being designated a marine Special Conservation Area.
Room at the top
The grassland and scrub at the top of the cliffs are home to farmland birds such as tree sparrows, skylarks and linnets. Short-eared owls also spend winter here.
We are cutting back scrub and harrowing grassland in order to increase the population of insects and small mammals on which all these birds feed. We also put out extra food when necessary.
Vision for visitors
The seabird spectacle at Bempton makes the reserve very popular during summer, while the farmland birds help generate interest all-year-round. We aim to continue attracting and educating people, and inspiring them to support the marine environment.
Our facilities currently include a shop, picnic area and cliff top walks. We aim to develop these, with a view to increasing numbers to 60,000 visitors per annum over the next five years.
Tracking gannets
For the first time, we're finding out where Bempton's gannets go when they're away from the colony.
RSPB scientists have fitted satellite tags to a number of adult gannets so that we can monitor where they go to catch fish. The tags are designed so that they don't hurt or hinder the birds, and they will eventually fall off when the gannets grow new tail feathers, if not sooner.
We need to find out whether the birds are using areas which the government has earmarked as potential wind farms, and how that might affect them. This information will be used to help plan where to put wind turbines at sea.
What we're doing
•Fourteen adult gannets were fitted with satellite tags in July 2010 (and another 13 in July 2011)
•In 2010 we got data from all 14 tags during the time when the gannets were rearing their chicks, and several kept transmitting data late into the breeding season
•The highest density of recorded locations at sea was within 31-62 miles (50-100 km) of Bempton Cliffs
•The greatest overlap with any of the proposed wind farm areas was with the Hornsea zone, which is nearest to Bempton
•These results are from just one breeding season, so it's unclear just how representative they are of what Bempton's gannets do. We'll monitor them again in future breeding seasons to learn more.
You can find out more about this work on the gannet tracking project page.
Stories of new repatriates who left their countries because of the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Elena writes:
“My name is Elena, my husband is Igor. I am 52 years old, he is 57. We have been together for almost 30 years, we have three children: Alexandra, Nikita and Taisiya, 9 years old. My mother Tatyana lives with us, she is 85 years old. I worked as a manager in college, my husband taught at the university.
Nikita went to Israel four years ago under the Sela program. We had no plans to leave, although we felt that the clouds were gathering. There was a favorite job, a dacha, a lake, bicycles, a bathhouse.
Honestly, I was sure that it was simply impossible in the 21st century, in Europe, to go and start bombing cities and killing people. When it started, there was a feeling of complete horror and disaster. And there was also horror because for some people around it there was no horror at all.
We understood that we had to somehow distance ourselves from this, and it was simply impossible to work anymore.
Mom supported us. Mom remembers the war, she was born in Leningrad and was evacuated in 1941 to Chelyabinsk. We have been in Israel for a year now and have embraced the country with all our hearts. We rejoice at the beautiful, marvel at the incomprehensible, and learn Hebrew. The eldest daughter remained in Russia, she has a family, our beloved grandson. This is our greatest pain. We understand that our “conversational” professions will not help us, we need to learn new ones. And we really hope that we can handle it."
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/index.aspx
Top things to do in Summer
1.Experience the sights, sounds and smells of the miraculous seabird spectacle at the peak of the breeding season
2.The surrounding fields are bejewelled by glorious red campion flowers
3.Enjoy a bite to eat in the family-friendly picnic area
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/about.aspx
A family favourite, and easily the best place in England to see, hear and smell seabirds! More than 200,000 birds (from April to August) make the cliffs seem alive – with adults bringing food to their nests, or young chicks making their first faltering flights.
With huge numbers to watch, beginners can easily learn the difference between gannets, guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and fulmars. The easily recognisable puffins (here between April and July) are always a delight. Specially-created cliff top viewpoints are wheelchair accessible with care.
You can watch our 200,000 seabirds LIVE on CCTV through the breeding season from March to October. Meet our information assistants and hear about the live action, watch it for yourself on our two TV screens and enjoy the close-up images of our nesting gannets.
Opening times
The reserve is open at all times. From March to October, the visitor centre is open daily from 9.30 am to 5 pm, and from November to February, 9.30 am to 4 pm.
Entrance charges
Entry is free of charge to members all year. There's a charge for non-members of £5 per car, minibus £8 and coach £10.
If you are new to birdwatching...
The birds are easy to see during breeding season - creating a fantastic seascape and bird spectacle. Only eight target seabird species breed here, so learning to identify birds is simple. In winter, common passerines (buntings, sparrows and finches) and short-eared owls (vary in numbers from one year to next) can be seen and identified.
Information for families
Reserve already popular with families. Various family events included in our programme throughout the year. Backpack Activity days very popular.
Information for dog owners
Dogs are welcome on the reserve, however they must be kept on leads at all times. This is to ensure that ground nesting birds are not disturbed, and also to ensure the safety of dogs on the cliff top.
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/star_speci...
Star species
Our star species are some of the most interesting birds you may see on your visit to the reserve.
Gannet
Look for stunning gannets cruising around at the base of the cliffs and fishing out to sea by rising up into the air before plunging in headfirst with their wings close.
Kittiwake
Visit Bempton in spring and early summer and your ears will be filled with the unmistakable 'kitti-wake' calls of this dainty gull. Look along the cliffs to see them packed onto their tiny nesting ledges.
Puffin
Enjoy the comical antics of puffins in spring and early summer from the viewing points on the cliffs. Watch the adults returning from fishing forays at sea with sandeels hanging from their colourful beaks.
Short-eared owl
Short-eared owls can be seen hunting over the clifftop grassland here in winter. The afternoons are a good time to spot them banking and gliding just above the ground; their piercing yellow eyes scanning for voles moving in the grass below.
Tree sparrow
Flocks of tree sparrows can be seen in the cliff top fields and are regular visitors to the feeding stations. Listen out for their conversational calls - a hard and piercing 'tek'.
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/seasonal_h...
Seasonal highlights
Each season brings a different experience at our nature reserves. In spring, the air is filled with birdsong as they compete to establish territories and attract a mate. In summer, look out for young birds making their first venture into the outside world. Autumn brings large movements of migrating birds - some heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter. In winter, look out for large flocks of birds gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm.
Spring
Breeding seabirds start to return, including gannets, puffins, guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, kittiwakes, herring gulls and shags. Farmland birds such as skylarks, tree sparrows, linnets, meadow pipits, reed and corn buntings can be seen. There are normally short-eared owls and peregrines to be seen too. Migratory birds include arriving wheatears and various warblers, while over-wintering thrushes can be seen on the reserve before moving back into mainland Europe. Porpoises can often be seen on calm days while early morning visits may provide sightings of roe deer.
Summer
Breeding season is in full swing with all 200,000 seabirds with eggs or chicks. Breeding tree sparrows, whitethroats, grasshopper warblers, sedge warblers, skylarks, linnets, reed buntings, rock and meadow pipits can be seen within 200 m of the visitor centre and car park. A moderate range of the commoner butterflies may be seen on sunny days, along with day-flying moths such as cinnabars, burnet moths and occasionally hummingbird hawk-moths. Trailside flora is dominated by red campion, black knapweed, various thistles and orchids including common spotted, northern marsh and pyramidal.
Autumn
All seabirds departed and breeding finished except for gannets. The autumnal migration can be exciting at Bempton owing to its coastal location and being on a headland. Short-eared owls begin to arrive to stay for the winter (depending on food availability) but the main interest is in the arrival of migrants such as willow warblers, chiffchaffs, whitethroats, lesser whitethroats, reed warblers, sedge warblers, goldcrests, stonechats, whinchats, wheatears and redstarts. Scarce species occur annually such as red-backed shrikes, and barred and icterine warblers. October is peak time to witness the winter thrush arrival, often hundreds of redwings, blackbirds, song thrushes and fieldfares occur along with occasional ring ouzels. Offshore, movements of seabirds may be seen in ideal weather conditions (strong NW winds). These include Manx and sooty shearwaters, Arctic and great skuas. Around the car park area migrant hawker and common darter dragonflies can be seen. There is little botanical interest at this time of year.
Winter
This is normally a quiet time of year. Bracing clifftop walks and fantastic seascapes are probably the best in Yorkshire. Up to 12 short-eared owls winter here, though in poor 'vole' years there may only be a few. The bird feeding station offers food and shelter to a range of commoner species such as tree sparrows (110 have been counted), greenfinch (60), and smaller numbers of blackbirds, robins, dunnocks, wrens, chaffinches, bramblings and various tit species. The cliff face attracts very few birds except for occasional herring gulls and fulmars, but by January gannets will return in good numbers with occasional days of guillemots in good numbers too.
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/facilities...
Facilities
Facilities
•Visitor centre
•Information centre
•Car park : Car park has no height restrictions. Cycle rack available close to visitor centre.
•Toilets
•Disabled toilets
•Picnic area
•Binocular hire
•Live camera
•Group bookings accepted
•Guided walks available
•Remote location
•Good for walking
•Pushchair friendly
Viewing points
Five cliff-top viewpoints and a bird feeding station. The five viewpoints are:
Grandstand: 200 m from visitor centre/car park, accessible by wheelchairs/pushchairs with care
Bartlett Nab: 400 m from visitor centre/car park and not easily accessible by wheelchairs/pushchairs
Jubilee Corner: 900 m from visitor centre/car park, not easily accessible by wheelchairs/pushchairs
New Roll-up: 500 m from visitor centre/car park, not easily accessible by wheelchairs/pushchairs
Staple Newk: 900m from visitor centre/car park, not easily accessible by wheelchairs/pushchairs.
The bird feeding station is easily accessed, 50 m from visitor centre/car park.
Nature trails
There are two nature trails. The first nature trail leading to five cliff-top viewpoints. The most distant viewpoints are 900 m from the visitor centre. Part of the trail is crushed chalk, with the remainder over worn grass. There is easy wheelchair and pushchair access to one viewpoint only. Paths can be wet and slippery following wet weather conditions, therefore care should be taken. The discovery trail is a shorter farmland walk.
Refreshments available
•Hot drinks
•Cold drinks
•Snacks
•Confectionery
Shop
The shop stocks:
•Binoculars and telescopes
•Books
•Bird food
•Gifts
Educational facilities
The Bempton Field Teaching Scheme operates throughout the year and offers exciting educational opportunities linked with the National Curriculum. The busiest time is from May to July, when breeding seabirds are at their peak. The scheme provides a unique opportunity to discover breeding seabirds, such as gannets and puffins, as well as investigating the challenging habitats in this fantastic coastal location. A truly memorable experience!
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/accessibil...
Accessibility
26 October 2012
This is a Summary Access Statement. A full access statement is available to download from this page
Before you visit
•Clear print leaflet available on request
•Free parking for members. Parking charge for non members. Free parking for carer or essential companion
•Registered Assistance Dogs welcome
•Check accessibility for events and activities
•Wheelchair free of charge to hire. Pre-booking advised
•Live footage on TV in Visitor Centre
How to get here
•Bempton railway station is 1.25 miles away
•The nearest bus stops are on the main B1229 through the village, around 1 mile from the reserve
•No pavement on road to reserve
Car parking
•Four blue badge parking spaces 10 m (13 yards) from the visitor centre on bound gravel and paved path
•60 spaces in main car park, is a short walk to the main entrance of the visitor centre
•Overflow with 60 spaces on grass
•The path surface from the overflow car park is crushed limestone on exiting the field and after 20 m (26 yards) joins the path from the coach drop-off point (see below)
•Drop-off point 50 m (60 yards) from the visitor centre with a crushed limestone surface with a 1:10 sloped descent
•No lighting or height restrictions.
Visitor centre
Situated on ground floor level with step free access. Live footage on TV from the colony. Four circular tables with seating. Outside when weather is fine. Tiled floor surface. Artificial and natural lighting. Access ramp leads to reserve.
Nature trails
The reserve offers visitors a mixture of trails. A mix of bonded tar-spray chip, crushed limestone or mown grass. Most trails are a minimum of 1200mm/47ins wide and the majority lead to the cliff top viewing points (see Viewing Facilities below).
Viewing facilities
Five built viewpoints along the cliff top path, most have seats. In the Visitor Centre there is live footage on TV of the colony. From car park to exit is The Dell - good for small migrant birds - with a narrow grass path with inclines to and from two seats. A bird feeding station is off the path between the coach park and visitor centre.
Toilets
There are toilets and an accessible toilets outside the visitor centre, with level access to all. Note there are no toilet facilities beyond the visitor centre.
Catering
A servery with a hatch facing outside the visitor centre offering hot and cold beverages, snacks and ice creams. Hatch is 900 mm (36 inches) from the ground.
Shop
The shop is within the visitor centre. Staff and volunteers can assist. There is level entry and no doors to enter apart from those at the main entrance. The shop is lit with spot lamps.
Education area
There is currently a short mown grass square to the rear of the visitor centre which serves as an outdoor classroom reached via the access ramp.
Picnic area
Seven picnic tables - four on grass and three with spaces for wheelchairs on crushed limestone surface - situated 25 m/30 yards from the visitor centre.
For more information
Bempton Cliffs
E-mail: bempton.cliffs@rspb.org.uk
Telephone:01262 851179
YO15 1JF
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/directions...
How to get here
By train
Nearest railway station 200 m south of Bempton village. Exit station and turn left, follow road down to church, walk up lane adjacent to church to staggered cross-road junction. Walk across road and take the road adjacent to the White Horse public house, northwards to the reserve. Total walking distance 1.5 miles (2.4 km). Walking time 40 minutes.
By bus
Nearest bus stop in Bempton village, 1 mile (1.5 km) from the reserve. Buses will drop off at any point on request. Disembark at White Horse public house and follow road northwards up the lane to the reserve. Walking time 30 minutes.
By road
The reserve is on the cliff road from the village of Bempton, which is on the B1229 road from Flamborough to Filey. In Bempton village, turn northwards at the White Horse public house and the reserve is at the end of the road after 1 mile (follow the brown tourist signs).
Other ways to get to the reserve
Trains and buses stop at Bempton, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the reserve. The timetables are seasonal so we advise you call the Visitor Centre for further details. Nearest ferry port in Hull and Humberside Airport in north Lincolnshire.
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/ourwork/in...
Management
Our Bempton Cliffs reserve, on the Yorkshire coast, protects over five kilometres of sea cliffs. From April to mid-August, these support England's largest population of seabirds. Grassland and scrub along the cliff tops are also home to breeding and wintering farmland birds.
The RSPB is managing the reserve for the benefit of its wildlife, which also includes seals and porpoises, and with a long-term view to upgrading its protection status.
Cliff-face communities
Bempton's breeding seabirds are internationally important, making the cliffs both a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Protection Area.
Species include kittiwakes, gannets, guillemot, razorbills and puffins. We have specific targets for every one: for instance, we would like to maintain a yearly kittiwake population of 43,000 nesting pairs, producing at least one young each.
During the breeding season, our cliff-top patrols help prevent disturbance by visitors and fishermen.
Leading by example
Unfortunately seabird colonies are vulnerable to environmental threats that lie beyond our control. These include climate change and industrial fishing, which affect the birds' food supplies. We aim to use Bempton to highlight these issues, so that key decision makers will take action to safeguard the long-term future of seabirds. We hope this will lead to Bempton being designated a marine Special Conservation Area.
Room at the top
The grassland and scrub at the top of the cliffs are home to farmland birds such as tree sparrows, skylarks and linnets. Short-eared owls also spend winter here.
We are cutting back scrub and harrowing grassland in order to increase the population of insects and small mammals on which all these birds feed. We also put out extra food when necessary.
Vision for visitors
The seabird spectacle at Bempton makes the reserve very popular during summer, while the farmland birds help generate interest all-year-round. We aim to continue attracting and educating people, and inspiring them to support the marine environment.
Our facilities currently include a shop, picnic area and cliff top walks. We aim to develop these, with a view to increasing numbers to 60,000 visitors per annum over the next five years.
Tracking gannets
For the first time, we're finding out where Bempton's gannets go when they're away from the colony.
RSPB scientists have fitted satellite tags to a number of adult gannets so that we can monitor where they go to catch fish. The tags are designed so that they don't hurt or hinder the birds, and they will eventually fall off when the gannets grow new tail feathers, if not sooner.
We need to find out whether the birds are using areas which the government has earmarked as potential wind farms, and how that might affect them. This information will be used to help plan where to put wind turbines at sea.
What we're doing
•Fourteen adult gannets were fitted with satellite tags in July 2010 (and another 13 in July 2011)
•In 2010 we got data from all 14 tags during the time when the gannets were rearing their chicks, and several kept transmitting data late into the breeding season
•The highest density of recorded locations at sea was within 31-62 miles (50-100 km) of Bempton Cliffs
•The greatest overlap with any of the proposed wind farm areas was with the Hornsea zone, which is nearest to Bempton
•These results are from just one breeding season, so it's unclear just how representative they are of what Bempton's gannets do. We'll monitor them again in future breeding seasons to learn more.
You can find out more about this work on the gannet tracking project page.
From High Weeldon. The opening shot in the book of White Light White Peak. Taken with my humble little Olympus compact zoom!
"White Light White Peak", the book, is published by Fly on the Wall press, launching at the Buxton Festival Fringe on July 15th 2019. Order your copy here: www.flyonthewallpoetry.co.uk/shop
An advance review of White Light White Peak – The Book:
“A joyous book - one to be slowly savoured. The black and white photos are truly atmospheric, the snippets of prose down-to-earth and gently humorous, while the poems are a wonderful celebration of nature. Simon Corble produces a little bit of magic in White Light White Peak, capturing the ethereal beauty of England's first national park. This is a book to keep and cherish.”
Helen Moat, freelance travel writer and book reviewer - author of "The Slow Guide to the Peak District".
White Light White Peak, the live show, is a personal journey through a year in the White Peak told through poems and projections. "Summed up in one word - mesmerising." (Caroline Small, events manager at The Green Man Gallery, Buxton). Starting in the depths of a snowy winter, this is a poetic journey through a White Peak year, including encounters with the weather, wildlife and people; some amusing, some thought-provoking and many involving a Springer Spaniel...or two. The poems are told from memory and in a conversational style; more like miniature short stories at times, complete with twists and some happy endings.
The White Light is all in my monochrome photography: Atmospheric landscapes, wildlife shots and enigmatic moments, reflecting the images and moods heard in the poems and projected onto a large screen throughout the performance. With the occasional soundscape, (captured locally - and in all weathers) the whole is a highly immersive experience; the culmination of five years' work.
More about the book and project in this blog:
.www.flyonthewallpoetry.co.uk/single-post/2019/02/25/Poets...
Eva: Alright, Julia. Let's do this thing!
Julia: By 'do thing thing' do you mean my on-line schooling zoom meeting?
Eva: Yes. Time to get going. I love zoomies and I love school.
Julia: But when I'm in school you're usually napping.
Eva: It is a good deal. Now if you'll stop talking for a minute I have some learning to do.
Julia: Okay.
Eva: Oh! I know the answer! Turn on your microphone so that I can tell your teacher the answer!
Julia: Eva, she hasn't asked a real question yet. She was just asking if we're keeping to a regular schedule and what we're doing to stay motivated.
Eva: I know. I heard her. And the answer is that yes, I've been sure to wake everyone up to feed me breakfast at the usual time and that birds motivate me!
Julia: Dude, you've got to chill. There are no points for answers to conversational questions.
Eva: No points for answers to questions? I thought school was all about receiving external rewards for being right about stuff.
Julia: Not entirely.
Eva: Not entirely? Well then your school is backwards. Whenever I'm learning something people tell me that I’m a good girl, pat my head and feed me cookies.
Julia: That would be odd in human school.
Eva: What's odd is your attitude - and this whole on-line learning thing. How ever is your teacher going to send me cookies or pat my head for being right about stuff? Is there even a treat dispenser in this laptop?
Julia: Eva, like I said you need to chill a bit. Laptops don’t have cookie dispensers.
Eva: I'll tell you when I need to chill. My presence is the only thing keeping this on-line school business interesting. And no cookie dispenser on this thing? That makes it more of a craptop than a laptop.
Julia: Wow.
Eva: Now, unless someone starts calling me a good girl and petting my head I'm out of here and looking for a school with a better hot lunch program.
---------
Eva joined Julia for her school zoom meeting the other day. With COVID restrictions schooling has moved online with occasional virtual classes with the teachers. The virtual class was not as exciting as Eva had hoped. But at least both of Julia's teachers thought that Eva was adorable.
Here's a closer view of the Woodcock I found recently, though not that close as I was using a 700mm lens. The camouflage is so good that it is only the eye that stands out. No wonder I hardly ever find them. I chanced upon this one as I was heading out to the Peak District moors, but when I returned a few hours later I could not re-find it.
Jonathan Swift, of Gulliver's Travels fame, wrote a book called "Polite Conversation" (1738) offering an ironic and satirical commentary on the perceived banality of conversation among the upper classes in early-18th century Great Britain. It is written in the form of a reference guide for those lacking in conversational skill. One of his anecdotes was: "The Woodcock strives to hide his long bill, and then thinks nobody sees him".
Dear Journal,
It is strange, the difference between the feeling of sailing carelessly through the vastness of open sky, and the feeling of staring down into the black, bottomless throat of a cavern. Instead of seeing as far as one may wish to look, one’s vision is blocked by the impassable, unwavering blackness.
“Ready, Mister Zenas?” my friend John called down.
“Ready!” I lied.
The rope descended, and I with it. Down, down, down… I was lowered deeper and deeper into the increasingly cold heart of the island. Oh, the places I’ll go and the things I’ll do in the name of discovery! The tantalizing temptation of finding the treasure drew me irresistibly… in spite of the increasing sense of claustrophobia that clasped its tight embrace about me.
At long, long last, I touched down on the soggy, gritty surface of the cavern floor and, clutching my rope, peered around into the absolute midnight of the massive cave. Behind me, there, something caught my eye. A tiny glimmer of light – it came from a small tunnel. I could hear the sloshing sound of water as I slowly inched towards it.
Once through, I encountered another cavern, smaller than the last one and… surprisingly beautiful. Purplish foliage clambered down from the heights above, and amid the rocks grew pockets of glowing mushrooms, quietly lighting the shadows. A collection of small waterfalls fed several trickling rivers that drained into a rushing whirlpool on the left of the cavern. In the center of the cavern was a small isle of wet sand, in the middle of which stood a lone column, atop which laid a small, golden artifact. The moment I espied it I knew, after weeks of travel, I had found what I sought.
I crept up towards it in the soft beam of light, mist drifting hazily around me. I circled the item, examining its every beautiful detail before I could dare to reach out and lift it up from its base.
But then, Journal, the unmistakable sound of a flintlock pistol being cocked echoed off the walls of the rocky chamber. I froze, the untouched golden relic still before me, and slowly glanced up to see a figure standing opposite me.
“I will not insult your intelligence, Mr. Abbington, as long as you do not explore the boundaries of my patience.” A confident and mellifluous voice flowed from the tall, mysteriously black-clad figure. His pistol gleamed, aimed directly at my heart. Terrifyingly, one could not see his features, for his face was entirely covered in spotless, filmy cloth. No doubt he could see outwards, but none could look in at him.
I was shivering. “Who-o-o are you?”
“I see no purpose in divulging my identity to you, nor that of my companion.” To my horror, another figure, similarly dressed, though a bit heftier in the shoulders, stood just past him. He too was armed with a flintlock.
Suddenly my thoughts darted in a different direction. “Wait, what have you done with John?”
“Your companion? I underestimated the speed and agility of his craft. He sailed off and made good his escape. I am certain he understood the message of my cannons and he shall not be trifling with me any further.” A tiny click announced the removal of his weapon’s safety latch. “Now, Mr. Abbington, as your conversational abilities leave much to be desired… the tablet, if you please.”
It was then that I saw my opportunity. I snatched the golden square and held it, ready to cast into the whirlpool swirling just within reach of me. The man and his companion started in shock.
“Now, you masked man, I will not insult your intelligence. Lower your weapon and leave, or I shall toss this tablet to the waters.”
The stranger chuckled menacingly. “I am more than prepared to murder for that tablet. Are you prepared to die for it?”
“I suppose I will have to find out!” I cried, hurling myself and said tablet into the whirlpool in one swift dive.
I shall write again, dear Journal, as soon as I may, and explain just how I came to be writing this entry and not drowned.
-Zenas Abbington
So there I was in the pub the other day professionally ignoring the football when this guy came up to me and started pontificating about how secure an investment of Bitcoin surely was. He told me he could increase my investment 100 fold. It surely seemed a little too good to be true but I entertained him because there was still 40 mins left on the game of ballfoot to endure. Come full time he was still banging on about a new crypto wallet or some such rubbish. It took all conversational skills I've garnered over the years just to get a word in edgeways and in that conversational sweet spot I somehow managed to get him to accept a small portrait of himself by way of my investment. I'm not really sure how i'm going to get my investment back but I did manage to get rid of him. For now at least. The Bitcoin investors are easily startled but they'll soon be back. And in greater numbers.
Cheers
id-iom
Monochrome Monday
Here we are at Combwich, and the Highbridge and Bridgwater trains are both timed to depart within 2 minutes of each other, just enough time for Hissing Sid the signalman to reset the route between trains.
With just a few minutes until the steamy spell of Bedlam, Derek and Clive are chatting about the price of the much celebrated Combwich crab and how it’s almost doubled in price in recent times. Clive standing to the right does look rather like Deliberation Dave with his stance, but that’s just coincidence I’m sure.
And as we pan right, Waving Wayne is waving again (he’s never been seen not waving in all his 52 years), just a friendly Monday morning wave, spying Hubert the conversational Latin speaking horse giving Harry the Hammer a few words of wisdom, in Latin of course. As it always the case, it’s almost the end of Harry’s shift, he being on nights tapping and bashing things with his hammer. Though they’re unlikely to spot Wayne through the gap between the locomotive and its train.
And finally, despite being in the middle of the summer, it’s looks like another dull day, but from a photography aspect, those clouds do make for a great photo, so much better than an even grey sky.
Left: the cave mouth of the intermittent fresh water spring.
Centre: a pot hole into the back of the cave mouth.
Right: the inside of the cave mouth.
Even if he spent most of his time inland, the majority of mankind from the late ages of prehistory will have known about tides - so important were communication links of river and coast, and so chattering and inquisitive the mind of man. A tide reveals both outgoing food and incoming danger. After the ice age's influence on the water table had faded - finding a fresh water inland intermittent spring cave that appeared to be 'tidal' might only have been thought provoking for late Mesolithic, neolithic and Bronze age man (with a cultural momentum into early medieval).
In an animistic world, life forces, seasons and spirits of man and animal were actors for an all visible landscape of fertility. An apparent fresh water source of 'tide' many have seemed as causal as the moon is in today's collective consciousness.
A spring with a large mouth (left) a nostril for breathing with the sky (centre) and rocky teeth (right)... These are certainly elements that might help prehistoric man build a landscape 'story' or myth of progenitor. My experience of translating local folk stories from the Occitan language is that all peoples recount stories, and then all individuals reserve their idiosyncratic weight and measure: some believe and others doubt - the myth being like a catalyst for conversation, with the differences of opinion starting from the collective point before the conversational art of "calibration" is liberated into the everyday details of day to day. Myths need not be dogmatic.
The spring water cave itself is not a great detour of distance or altitude from the populated flatlands of today's Occitanie, and the cave-mouth spring sits near to a potential starting point for the crest walk that peaks at the atypical multi-site of Morenci (menhir, monolith, petroglyph, sepulture, tumuli, glyph, 'Venus hill' view). Today people visit the 'source' of the 'Canal du Midi' in Ravel - might the source of 'the tidal seas' have been visualised of as being Fountain Fontestorbes? A gestation for a start point for post ice age pilgrimage?
From the Fountain Fontestorbes, it would be logical to continue the 'pilgrimage' along the crest to the dynamic late prehistoric site of Morenci. The same crest quickly opens to views on the dramatic scenery of today's Montsegur - a potential Venus Hill - or natural 'cathedral' (you need to blot out today's castle to imagine the scene).
Collecting water from a sacred spring. Watching for the intermittent flow at the end of summer, walking to the Morenci hill top or even continuing past the venus hill view and down to Montsegur (pre Medieval) or up to the Massif around the Pic of Saint Bartholomew (all of which have prehistoric details) might have been a way for all man to gain first hand knowledge of the iconic Pyrenees mountain backdrop without any of the technicality and local knowledge required by local crofters. With the Pyrenees clearly visible to early farmers from as far away as the southern plateau of the river Lot - a potential flat land population of 'pilgrims' would have been present. Add to this population base a sense of movement in prehistory (lines of exchange were often based on rivers and coasts) and one might add a certain number of persons visiting talked-about mythical sites in the way that today we may visit different regional cathedrals. Seeing Carnac with your own eyes, seeing Savassona, walking between the Fountain Fontestorbes and the Monsegur Venus hill, witnessing the 'lady' of Mont Gris...
Very small but constant numbers of once-in-a-life-time travellers, aside small numbers of proto 'Parfait', aside the vast population of persons who live and 'see' the mountain backdrop and are thirsty for the knowledge that comes from real experience and not second hand story... Whilst pilgrimage may be only once in a lifetime, it seems that this population scope may be enough to produce the landscape peppering of prehistoric remains that we see today between the Fountain Fontestorbes and the Massif de Tabe.
AJM 23.9.19
On such a day. This is now the shot for "January" in the book of White Light White Peak.
White Light White Peak, the live show, is a personal journey through a year in the White Peak told through poems and projections.
“a beautiful work of art in every one of its facets – poetry, photography, stagecraft, soundtrack.”
Jim Marriott – Buxton Festival Fringe review.
"Summed up in one word - mesmerising." (Caroline Small, events manager at The Green Man Gallery, Buxton).
Touring the Peak District and beyond, September and October - with more dates planned for 2020 - see our facebook page www.facebook.com/whitelightwhitepeak
Starting in the depths of a snowy winter, this is a poetic journey through a White Peak year, including encounters with the weather, wildlife and people; some amusing, some thought-provoking and many involving a Springer Spaniel...or two. The poems are told from memory and in a conversational style; more like miniature short stories at times, complete with twists and some happy endings.
The White Light is all in my monochrome photography: Atmospheric landscapes, wildlife shots and enigmatic moments, reflecting the images and moods heard in the poems and projected onto a large screen throughout the performance. With the occasional soundscape, (captured locally - and in all weathers) the whole is a highly immersive experience; the culmination of five years' work.
"White Light White Peak", the book, is published by Fly on the Wall press - order a copy here: www.flyonthewallpoetry.co.uk/shop Copies for sale at a discount (and signed!) at the live event if you buy the programme, which contains a supplement of seven poems with photographs.
A review of White Light White Peak – The Book:
“A joyous book - one to be slowly savoured. The black and white photos are truly atmospheric, the snippets of prose down-to-earth and gently humorous, while the poems are a wonderful celebration of nature. Simon Corble produces a little bit of magic in White Light White Peak, capturing the ethereal beauty of England's first national park. This is a book to keep and cherish.”
Helen Moat, freelance travel writer and book reviewer - author of "The Slow Guide to the Peak District".
If you want to book the live show for your venue or group, then please email me corblesimon@gmail.com, Suitable for all kinds of spaces that can provide some level of blackout.
Did I mention we were at this spot for three hours? Three hours, plus the half hour to get there, the half hour to get home, that's a lot of hanging out, the kind of time I don't normally spend with my subjects. It's a risky endeavor!
What if someone's boring? You ever driven someone all the way to the beach, only to discover a few minutes in that they do not have great conversational skills, are not at all interested in talking about themselves, and maybe aren't even all that enthused about the photo session to begin with?
IT'S MISERABLE.
I remembered Kelcie being real easy to work with, though, so I rolled the dice.
After all that...I want to take her picture again immediately. Wasn't a moment of awkward silence, or miscommunication, we were on the same wavelength from the moment she showed up. What a collaborator! What a life!
My girlfriend was visiting her parents, Paige's husband was off in the mountains riding motorcycles with his buddies, perfect time to have a four hour lunch where we chatted and chatted and chatted...
Realized we hadn't hung out just the two of us in a very long time. We're lucky, she adores my girlfriend, I'm a huge fan of her husband, so when we all meet up it's a grand time.
After lunch I realized though, there's stuff two people can discuss that wouldn't quite fit into the conversational vibe of two couples. Four hours' worth, in fact!
Before covid, I had a lot more friends, but I gotta say, the friendships that didn't survive that time...they were casual, outer tier. The folks I still hang with, it's all 2/3/4 hour conversations. Folks I could kibbitz with all day, if we had the time.
Quality over quantity.
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/index.aspx
Top things to do in Summer
1.Experience the sights, sounds and smells of the miraculous seabird spectacle at the peak of the breeding season
2.The surrounding fields are bejewelled by glorious red campion flowers
3.Enjoy a bite to eat in the family-friendly picnic area
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/about.aspx
A family favourite, and easily the best place in England to see, hear and smell seabirds! More than 200,000 birds (from April to August) make the cliffs seem alive – with adults bringing food to their nests, or young chicks making their first faltering flights.
With huge numbers to watch, beginners can easily learn the difference between gannets, guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and fulmars. The easily recognisable puffins (here between April and July) are always a delight. Specially-created cliff top viewpoints are wheelchair accessible with care.
You can watch our 200,000 seabirds LIVE on CCTV through the breeding season from March to October. Meet our information assistants and hear about the live action, watch it for yourself on our two TV screens and enjoy the close-up images of our nesting gannets.
Opening times
The reserve is open at all times. From March to October, the visitor centre is open daily from 9.30 am to 5 pm, and from November to February, 9.30 am to 4 pm.
Entrance charges
Entry is free of charge to members all year. There's a charge for non-members of £5 per car, minibus £8 and coach £10.
If you are new to birdwatching...
The birds are easy to see during breeding season - creating a fantastic seascape and bird spectacle. Only eight target seabird species breed here, so learning to identify birds is simple. In winter, common passerines (buntings, sparrows and finches) and short-eared owls (vary in numbers from one year to next) can be seen and identified.
Information for families
Reserve already popular with families. Various family events included in our programme throughout the year. Backpack Activity days very popular.
Information for dog owners
Dogs are welcome on the reserve, however they must be kept on leads at all times. This is to ensure that ground nesting birds are not disturbed, and also to ensure the safety of dogs on the cliff top.
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/star_speci...
Star species
Our star species are some of the most interesting birds you may see on your visit to the reserve.
Gannet
Look for stunning gannets cruising around at the base of the cliffs and fishing out to sea by rising up into the air before plunging in headfirst with their wings close.
Kittiwake
Visit Bempton in spring and early summer and your ears will be filled with the unmistakable 'kitti-wake' calls of this dainty gull. Look along the cliffs to see them packed onto their tiny nesting ledges.
Puffin
Enjoy the comical antics of puffins in spring and early summer from the viewing points on the cliffs. Watch the adults returning from fishing forays at sea with sandeels hanging from their colourful beaks.
Short-eared owl
Short-eared owls can be seen hunting over the clifftop grassland here in winter. The afternoons are a good time to spot them banking and gliding just above the ground; their piercing yellow eyes scanning for voles moving in the grass below.
Tree sparrow
Flocks of tree sparrows can be seen in the cliff top fields and are regular visitors to the feeding stations. Listen out for their conversational calls - a hard and piercing 'tek'.
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/seasonal_h...
Seasonal highlights
Each season brings a different experience at our nature reserves. In spring, the air is filled with birdsong as they compete to establish territories and attract a mate. In summer, look out for young birds making their first venture into the outside world. Autumn brings large movements of migrating birds - some heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter. In winter, look out for large flocks of birds gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm.
Spring
Breeding seabirds start to return, including gannets, puffins, guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, kittiwakes, herring gulls and shags. Farmland birds such as skylarks, tree sparrows, linnets, meadow pipits, reed and corn buntings can be seen. There are normally short-eared owls and peregrines to be seen too. Migratory birds include arriving wheatears and various warblers, while over-wintering thrushes can be seen on the reserve before moving back into mainland Europe. Porpoises can often be seen on calm days while early morning visits may provide sightings of roe deer.
Summer
Breeding season is in full swing with all 200,000 seabirds with eggs or chicks. Breeding tree sparrows, whitethroats, grasshopper warblers, sedge warblers, skylarks, linnets, reed buntings, rock and meadow pipits can be seen within 200 m of the visitor centre and car park. A moderate range of the commoner butterflies may be seen on sunny days, along with day-flying moths such as cinnabars, burnet moths and occasionally hummingbird hawk-moths. Trailside flora is dominated by red campion, black knapweed, various thistles and orchids including common spotted, northern marsh and pyramidal.
Autumn
All seabirds departed and breeding finished except for gannets. The autumnal migration can be exciting at Bempton owing to its coastal location and being on a headland. Short-eared owls begin to arrive to stay for the winter (depending on food availability) but the main interest is in the arrival of migrants such as willow warblers, chiffchaffs, whitethroats, lesser whitethroats, reed warblers, sedge warblers, goldcrests, stonechats, whinchats, wheatears and redstarts. Scarce species occur annually such as red-backed shrikes, and barred and icterine warblers. October is peak time to witness the winter thrush arrival, often hundreds of redwings, blackbirds, song thrushes and fieldfares occur along with occasional ring ouzels. Offshore, movements of seabirds may be seen in ideal weather conditions (strong NW winds). These include Manx and sooty shearwaters, Arctic and great skuas. Around the car park area migrant hawker and common darter dragonflies can be seen. There is little botanical interest at this time of year.
Winter
This is normally a quiet time of year. Bracing clifftop walks and fantastic seascapes are probably the best in Yorkshire. Up to 12 short-eared owls winter here, though in poor 'vole' years there may only be a few. The bird feeding station offers food and shelter to a range of commoner species such as tree sparrows (110 have been counted), greenfinch (60), and smaller numbers of blackbirds, robins, dunnocks, wrens, chaffinches, bramblings and various tit species. The cliff face attracts very few birds except for occasional herring gulls and fulmars, but by January gannets will return in good numbers with occasional days of guillemots in good numbers too.
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/facilities...
Facilities
Facilities
•Visitor centre
•Information centre
•Car park : Car park has no height restrictions. Cycle rack available close to visitor centre.
•Toilets
•Disabled toilets
•Picnic area
•Binocular hire
•Live camera
•Group bookings accepted
•Guided walks available
•Remote location
•Good for walking
•Pushchair friendly
Viewing points
Five cliff-top viewpoints and a bird feeding station. The five viewpoints are:
Grandstand: 200 m from visitor centre/car park, accessible by wheelchairs/pushchairs with care
Bartlett Nab: 400 m from visitor centre/car park and not easily accessible by wheelchairs/pushchairs
Jubilee Corner: 900 m from visitor centre/car park, not easily accessible by wheelchairs/pushchairs
New Roll-up: 500 m from visitor centre/car park, not easily accessible by wheelchairs/pushchairs
Staple Newk: 900m from visitor centre/car park, not easily accessible by wheelchairs/pushchairs.
The bird feeding station is easily accessed, 50 m from visitor centre/car park.
Nature trails
There are two nature trails. The first nature trail leading to five cliff-top viewpoints. The most distant viewpoints are 900 m from the visitor centre. Part of the trail is crushed chalk, with the remainder over worn grass. There is easy wheelchair and pushchair access to one viewpoint only. Paths can be wet and slippery following wet weather conditions, therefore care should be taken. The discovery trail is a shorter farmland walk.
Refreshments available
•Hot drinks
•Cold drinks
•Snacks
•Confectionery
Shop
The shop stocks:
•Binoculars and telescopes
•Books
•Bird food
•Gifts
Educational facilities
The Bempton Field Teaching Scheme operates throughout the year and offers exciting educational opportunities linked with the National Curriculum. The busiest time is from May to July, when breeding seabirds are at their peak. The scheme provides a unique opportunity to discover breeding seabirds, such as gannets and puffins, as well as investigating the challenging habitats in this fantastic coastal location. A truly memorable experience!
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/accessibil...
Accessibility
26 October 2012
This is a Summary Access Statement. A full access statement is available to download from this page
Before you visit
•Clear print leaflet available on request
•Free parking for members. Parking charge for non members. Free parking for carer or essential companion
•Registered Assistance Dogs welcome
•Check accessibility for events and activities
•Wheelchair free of charge to hire. Pre-booking advised
•Live footage on TV in Visitor Centre
How to get here
•Bempton railway station is 1.25 miles away
•The nearest bus stops are on the main B1229 through the village, around 1 mile from the reserve
•No pavement on road to reserve
Car parking
•Four blue badge parking spaces 10 m (13 yards) from the visitor centre on bound gravel and paved path
•60 spaces in main car park, is a short walk to the main entrance of the visitor centre
•Overflow with 60 spaces on grass
•The path surface from the overflow car park is crushed limestone on exiting the field and after 20 m (26 yards) joins the path from the coach drop-off point (see below)
•Drop-off point 50 m (60 yards) from the visitor centre with a crushed limestone surface with a 1:10 sloped descent
•No lighting or height restrictions.
Visitor centre
Situated on ground floor level with step free access. Live footage on TV from the colony. Four circular tables with seating. Outside when weather is fine. Tiled floor surface. Artificial and natural lighting. Access ramp leads to reserve.
Nature trails
The reserve offers visitors a mixture of trails. A mix of bonded tar-spray chip, crushed limestone or mown grass. Most trails are a minimum of 1200mm/47ins wide and the majority lead to the cliff top viewing points (see Viewing Facilities below).
Viewing facilities
Five built viewpoints along the cliff top path, most have seats. In the Visitor Centre there is live footage on TV of the colony. From car park to exit is The Dell - good for small migrant birds - with a narrow grass path with inclines to and from two seats. A bird feeding station is off the path between the coach park and visitor centre.
Toilets
There are toilets and an accessible toilets outside the visitor centre, with level access to all. Note there are no toilet facilities beyond the visitor centre.
Catering
A servery with a hatch facing outside the visitor centre offering hot and cold beverages, snacks and ice creams. Hatch is 900 mm (36 inches) from the ground.
Shop
The shop is within the visitor centre. Staff and volunteers can assist. There is level entry and no doors to enter apart from those at the main entrance. The shop is lit with spot lamps.
Education area
There is currently a short mown grass square to the rear of the visitor centre which serves as an outdoor classroom reached via the access ramp.
Picnic area
Seven picnic tables - four on grass and three with spaces for wheelchairs on crushed limestone surface - situated 25 m/30 yards from the visitor centre.
For more information
Bempton Cliffs
E-mail: bempton.cliffs@rspb.org.uk
Telephone:01262 851179
YO15 1JF
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/directions...
How to get here
By train
Nearest railway station 200 m south of Bempton village. Exit station and turn left, follow road down to church, walk up lane adjacent to church to staggered cross-road junction. Walk across road and take the road adjacent to the White Horse public house, northwards to the reserve. Total walking distance 1.5 miles (2.4 km). Walking time 40 minutes.
By bus
Nearest bus stop in Bempton village, 1 mile (1.5 km) from the reserve. Buses will drop off at any point on request. Disembark at White Horse public house and follow road northwards up the lane to the reserve. Walking time 30 minutes.
By road
The reserve is on the cliff road from the village of Bempton, which is on the B1229 road from Flamborough to Filey. In Bempton village, turn northwards at the White Horse public house and the reserve is at the end of the road after 1 mile (follow the brown tourist signs).
Other ways to get to the reserve
Trains and buses stop at Bempton, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the reserve. The timetables are seasonal so we advise you call the Visitor Centre for further details. Nearest ferry port in Hull and Humberside Airport in north Lincolnshire.
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/ourwork/in...
Management
Our Bempton Cliffs reserve, on the Yorkshire coast, protects over five kilometres of sea cliffs. From April to mid-August, these support England's largest population of seabirds. Grassland and scrub along the cliff tops are also home to breeding and wintering farmland birds.
The RSPB is managing the reserve for the benefit of its wildlife, which also includes seals and porpoises, and with a long-term view to upgrading its protection status.
Cliff-face communities
Bempton's breeding seabirds are internationally important, making the cliffs both a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Protection Area.
Species include kittiwakes, gannets, guillemot, razorbills and puffins. We have specific targets for every one: for instance, we would like to maintain a yearly kittiwake population of 43,000 nesting pairs, producing at least one young each.
During the breeding season, our cliff-top patrols help prevent disturbance by visitors and fishermen.
Leading by example
Unfortunately seabird colonies are vulnerable to environmental threats that lie beyond our control. These include climate change and industrial fishing, which affect the birds' food supplies. We aim to use Bempton to highlight these issues, so that key decision makers will take action to safeguard the long-term future of seabirds. We hope this will lead to Bempton being designated a marine Special Conservation Area.
Room at the top
The grassland and scrub at the top of the cliffs are home to farmland birds such as tree sparrows, skylarks and linnets. Short-eared owls also spend winter here.
We are cutting back scrub and harrowing grassland in order to increase the population of insects and small mammals on which all these birds feed. We also put out extra food when necessary.
Vision for visitors
The seabird spectacle at Bempton makes the reserve very popular during summer, while the farmland birds help generate interest all-year-round. We aim to continue attracting and educating people, and inspiring them to support the marine environment.
Our facilities currently include a shop, picnic area and cliff top walks. We aim to develop these, with a view to increasing numbers to 60,000 visitors per annum over the next five years.
Tracking gannets
For the first time, we're finding out where Bempton's gannets go when they're away from the colony.
RSPB scientists have fitted satellite tags to a number of adult gannets so that we can monitor where they go to catch fish. The tags are designed so that they don't hurt or hinder the birds, and they will eventually fall off when the gannets grow new tail feathers, if not sooner.
We need to find out whether the birds are using areas which the government has earmarked as potential wind farms, and how that might affect them. This information will be used to help plan where to put wind turbines at sea.
What we're doing
•Fourteen adult gannets were fitted with satellite tags in July 2010 (and another 13 in July 2011)
•In 2010 we got data from all 14 tags during the time when the gannets were rearing their chicks, and several kept transmitting data late into the breeding season
•The highest density of recorded locations at sea was within 31-62 miles (50-100 km) of Bempton Cliffs
•The greatest overlap with any of the proposed wind farm areas was with the Hornsea zone, which is nearest to Bempton
•These results are from just one breeding season, so it's unclear just how representative they are of what Bempton's gannets do. We'll monitor them again in future breeding seasons to learn more.
You can find out more about this work on the gannet tracking project page.